He was born on September 10, 1930, at his home in the Heights to Emil and Vera Heller Berger.
He attended All Saints Catholic School in the Heights until his family moved to Ammannsville, Texas, in 1941. He attended school in LaGrange and graduated from high school in Schulenburg. While in high school, he met the love of his life, Lillian Belota. Lillian and Don were married on August 6, 1951.
From January 1952 to1954, he served in the Army during the Korean War, but was stationed in Germany. He played football and threw the discus during his service.
After completing his military duty, Don and Lillian continued to work on the family farm in Ammannsville. They moved to Houston in 1956 where he worked for Cameron Ironworks and Snappy Snack. He then became a pioneer in the vending and catering industry by starting his own company, Texas Automatic Foods in 1959. Under his leadership, Texas Automatic Foods grew to one of the largest independent vending companies in Houston. This success led to corporate catering and office coffee services. He served on many boards in the vending industry including National Automatic Merchandising Association and Texas Automatic Merchandising Association.
Don and Lillian were one of the founding families of St. Jerome Catholic Church where he has been a faithful parishioner.
He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and uncle. He enjoyed family gatherings and made those times special with his boisterous voice and personality. He will be fondly loved and remembered for many years to come. He is survived by his wife Lillian Berger of 62 years; his son, Greg Berger and his wife Helen Berger; his daughter Susan Berger Oswalt and her husband Barry Oswalt; his son Leo Berger and his wife Kim Berger; his grandchildren, Melanie Berger Zermeno and her husband Anthony Zermeno; Dan Berger and his wife Claire Berger; Dee Dee Berger; Dawson Oswalt and his wife Abbie Oswalt; Lauren Oswalt Baber and her husband Stuart Baber; Ryan Berger; Kirk Berger; his great grandchildren, Kaylie Zermeno, Luke Zermeno, Blake Zermeno, Jackson Berger, Evan Berger, Andrew Berger, Hughes Baber, Oliver Oswalt; his sister Billie Hoffmann, and numerous nieces and nephews as well as many other family members.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Activity Center Fund, St. Jerome’s Catholic Church, 8825 Kempwood Dr., Houston, TX, 77080.
Visitation will be held at Memorial Oaks Funeral Home located at 13001 Katy Freeway in Houston on Sunday, June 15, 2014 from 5:00-7:00 pm. On Monday, June 16, the Rosary will begin at 9:30 am with the funeral service following at 10:00 am located at St. Jerome’s Catholic Church in Houston. Interment will immediately follow at Memorial Oaks Cemetery.
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