Grace D. (Jaecks) Berg

Grace D. Berg, 86, Wausau, passed away peacefully on June 23, 2024, at Aspirus Wausau Hospital.

Grace was born on July 7, 1937, to Frederick and Verona (Wachholz) Jaecks.  She graduated from Wausau High School in 1955 and married Gordon R. Berg on June 7, 1958, at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church in Wausau.

Grace served as a secretary for the American Can Company from 1955 to 1962.  She returned to the workplace in 1979 as Director of Volunteers for Wausau Hospital Center until 2002 when she retired.  Her joy in running the volunteer organization was the diversity of people and plugging them into opportunities that made them excel in their volunteerism.  She was an out of the box thinker when it came to charity events, such as the Charity Horse Show for Wausau Hospital Center which was awarded best show by the Wisconsin Quarter Horse Association.

Grace was incredibly involved in the Wausau community, serving on committees and frequently serving in leadership roles.  She was a long-time member of Immanual Lutheran Church and served in several capacities including church council, choir, Sarah Circle, and Altar Guild.  Other organizations she served included the United Way, Wausau Area Taxpayer’s League, and the Wausau Women’s Club.

Grace truly enjoyed (via marriage) her love of the Norwegian heritage of the Berg Family.  One of her trademark phrases in life was “Uff da”, so much so it became part of her personal email address.  Grace also enjoyed sports including Green Bay Packer football, NCAA Men’s basketball, and NASCAR.

Grace loved reunions...whether it was the Wausau High Class of 1955 Reunion, the Wausau High School Yesteryear Reunion, or the Berg Family Reunion.  Her skill at organizing and her love of getting family and friends together was one of her many gifts.  She loved hosting holiday celebrations for the family as well as small intimate gatherings for friends.  She will be remembered for many things, among them her distinctive and infectious laugh.

She was preceded in death by her husband Gordon and her parents Frederick and Verona Jaecks.

Survivors include sisters Kathleen Jaecks of Wausau, Elizabeth (Ron) Kordus of Schofield; and brother Richard (Sue) Jaecks of Woodstock, GA; daughters Mary (Dennis) Dahlen of Rochester, MN and Ann (Steve) Tellers of Plymouth, MN.  Granddaughters Nicole (Dominick) Ruggiero of Chesapeake, VA; Sara (Mason) Rector of West Fargo, ND; and Emma (Carter Radcliffe) Dahlen of Phoenix, AZ.  Five great grandchildren:  Alistair, Harper, Vivianna, Soren and Roman.

The family would like to thank the staff at Mountain Terrace Assisted Living for their tender care of Grace for the past three years.  They would also like to thank the Wausau Aspirus Hospital Palliative Care staff for their care of Grace in her last days.

Memorials for Grace are encouraged to be made to Wausau Aspirus Hospital Volunteers at 333 Pine Ridge Blvd, Wausau, WI 54401 or Immanual Lutheran Church 630 Adams Street, Wausau, WI  54403.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 29, 2024 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Wausau.  The Rev. Justin Smoot will officiate.  Burial will be Restlawn Memorial Park, Wausau.  Visitation will be held on Saturday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of services all at the church.  Peterson/Kraemer Funeral Home, Wausau is in charge of arrangements.  Online condolences may be expressed at www.petersonkraemer.com