Janet Berge

Deerfield- Janet Loraine Berge, 83 passed away Sunday, October 1, 2017 peacefully in her apartment at Aster Assisted Living after a 5 month battle with heart and lung problems. She was born on October 20, 1933 at home in Edgerton WI, daughter of Katherine (Tellefson) Rusch and Harold Rusch.
Janet attended country schools in Edgerton and Cambridge and went on to graduate from Cambridge High School in 1951 as the valedictorian. She was passionate about her career working with the Legislative Council at the Wisconsin State Capital and enjoyed 42 years working there alongside many admirable people before retiring in 1997.
On March 17, 1951, at the St. Patrick's Day dance, Janet met her eternal dance partner and love of her life Arnold John Berge. After a short courtship, they married on June 26, 1954 at East Koshkonong Lutheran Church in Cambridge where Janet had been baptized and confirmed. Before Arnold passed away they enjoyed 60 years of marriage and a beautiful life together filled with family and friends. They spent the years dancing every chance they got all around the Midwest and Arizona at various polka's and community dances.
Janet was a very social woman who loved to travel and made new friends everywhere she went. She cherished time with family and friends cooking, playing cards, entertaining, visiting and laughing. She was a dedicated member of the Deerfield Lutheran Church where she was a part of the Rebecca Circle. For the last 19 years, she enjoyed six months over the winter each year at Bonita Vista Mobile Home Park in Apache Junction, Arizona.
Janet's greatest joy was being a part of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren's lives as they grew up. She loved hearing about school, attending school concerts and activities and always jumped at the chance to watch the kids play baseball and softball. She loved to get the whole family together for dinners, family reunions and wanted to pass on family traditions like making lefse. She and Arnold loved to travel with family and enjoyed many trips to Aruba with her sister, Donna and friends, family trips to Christmas Mountain in the Wisconsin Dells and always welcomed any visitors to their winter home in Arizona.
Janet is survived by her children Gary (Dawn) Berge and Dennis Berge; grandchildren Nathan (Kassondra) Berge, Crystal (Jason) Brabender, Nicholas (Amber) Berge, Andrew (Kathryn) Berge, Ashley Berge, Monica (Joshua) Riese, Joshua Berge; great-grandchildren Owyn, Isabell, Arthur, Henry, Charles, Camille, Wyatt, Skylar, Kayden, Bella, Karlee and William; sister Donna Rusch, sister-in-laws Ruth Rusch, Pat Ambrose and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Janet was preceded in death by her parents; husband Arnold, sister Lois Funk, three brothers Duane Rusch, Richard Rusch and Donald Rusch, and by her granddaughter Adraannah Berge.
Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 7th at Deerfield Lutheran Church, 206 S. Main St., Deerfield with the Rev. Larry Sexe officiating. Burial will follow in the Deerfield Lutheran Cemetery. Friends and relatives are invited to a luncheon in the church fellowship hall following burial. Visitation will be held 9 a.m. until the time of services on Saturday at the church.
Memorials may be made to Deerfield Lutheran Church, 206 S. Main St., Deerfield, WI 53531.
Please share your memories of Janet at: www.CressFuneralService.com.

Cress Funeral Services
201 Bue Street
Deerfield, WI 53531
(608) 764-5369