Marie A. Berger, aged 95, passed peacefully on Saturday, November 18, 2023 at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa, several days after suffering a massive stroke at her home in Blue Grass, Iowa, where she resided after living in Rock Island during the preceding decades. Beloved wife of the late L. Raymond Berger; cherished mother of Mary J. Berger of Amelia Island, FL; Raymond D. Berger (Vonnie) of Blue Grass, IA; Mark F. Berger of Blue Grass, IA; devoted grandmother of Alex Berger (Kyouhee) of Marquette, Ml; and step-grandchildren Duane Boeh (Jamie), James Sandberg (Amy), Rebecca Hanlon (Mark), John Boeh (Bobbi); and Great-grandmother of Antigone and Ajax Berger, both of Marquette, MI; and step-great-grandchildren Benjamin, Emerson, Wrigley, Holly, Lily, Emily, Ethan, John Henry, and Jacob; sister of Sister Margaret Mary Schima, O.S.B of Naperville, IL and Francis Schima, Denver, CO.

Born in Chicago, IL on July 14,1928, to Marie and Frank Schima, Marie married L. Raymond Berger at St. Barbara Catholic Church in Brookfield, IL on August 28, 1948. During their long marriage, Marie devoted herself to establishing and maintaining a well-appointed tranquil home for her family, filling it with beauty and creature comforts and supporting husband Raymond's various endeavors including becoming a lawyer, obtaining his pilot's license, and earning an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago, as well as guiding their three headstrong children along their diverse paths toward adulthood, sharing with them her love of books, learning and exploration of the known and the unknown. She tirelessly ferried them to myriad after-school activities including music, dance, and judo lessons, countless sporting and cheerleading practices, and Girl and Boy Scouting activities. She instilled in her children a faith in God and provided the highest quality educational opportunities from pre-school through post-secondary schools.

During those years Marie was a dedicated volunteer in several after-school enrichment programs at the children's Catholic grade schools, notably a Great Books Club and the Girl Scouts. Marie also engaged in activities to enhance her own life, such as St. Pius X Women's Daytime Bowling League, and Marathon Bridge. She held leadership positions in the League of Women Voters, the Rock Island Arsenal Golf Club Ladies 9 Hole Golf Committee, and the Franciscan Hospital Auxiliary Board. Marie was always well-dressed and poised, confident but never boastful. She could lead (but didn't need to), or she could follow.

Marie cherished the quality time she had with her grandson Alex during his grade school years, co-parenting for short periods of time when his parents were otherwise occupied.

Marie was a life-long learner with an insatiable interest in current world events, and an explorer of the physical world and the life of the mind. As their children grew and increasingly sustained their own lives, she enjoyed travel with her husband throughout the U.S., Canada, England, and the Mediterranean coastal countries. She also traveled with a small college alumnae group to Macau and China, shortly after it opened to Western tourists in the late 1970s. She returned with amazing stories as well as life- threatening pneumonia attributed to China's poor air quality. With what became her trademark resilience, she slowly but steadily recovered from her critical condition and resumed her love for exploration of remote places, including co-piloting with her pilot husband their small plane, visiting Florida and Midwestern destinations, with the Ozarks and the wilds of Northern Wisconsin being among her favorites. Marie also made a memorable trip to Russia, Eastern Europe, and Greece with her sister.

In the late 1980's daughter Mary assumed a Corporate Counsel position in Fernandina Beach, Florida, whereupon Marie and Ray established a parttime home there, embracing oceanfront living and a respite from Midwestern winters. Marie especially savored beach walks, combing the beach for shells under the dramatic skies of the rising or setting sun along with the Caspian Terns, Laughing Gulls and pelicans, partaking in real-time the wisdom imparted in Anne Morrow Lindburgh's "Gift from the Sea", one of Marie's treasured books as a young adult which inspired her life and to which she often referred.

After her husband died in 1994, losing his valiant fight with lupus, Marie's responsibilities expanded at the Rock Island County Abstract and Title Guaranty Company, alongside her son Ray, who assumed his father's role as President. She remained an active, engaged officer of the Company with an unflinching eye on the financial operations until a few years before her death. While she was hardnosed on all matters financial, she was "Celebrater-in-Chief" at employee birthday lunches, marking the high point of festivities with the notorious Singing Duck.

Marie's life was not without travail and challenge. Headstrong children are not easy. But the most daunting period was her husband Ray's extended battle with lupus. She weathered that heartbreaking life chapter with strength and love, caring for Ray at home with unwavering assistance from son Mark, and modeling how to keep an even keel in a storm.

Marie was prized by all who knew her as a spirited friend, well-read and clear thinking. She helped lost souls with heartfelt words of encouragement. She endured illness without whining, and adjusted with grace as her physical limitations increased with age.

Marie seldom missed her daily walk under the big sky, breathing fresh air. Only the direst of conditions kept her indoors. She would bundle up and launch out into the vagaries of the Midwest weather from which she drew her strength and resilience. It was also her special time with God. And so it was on the morning of the day of her stroke, she enjoyed her usual walk. The weather was classic Midwest autumnal; a cool light breeze blew through the leafless trees. She was comfortable in her winter coat and scarf. The sun shone brightly in the big sky overhead. God was in his heaven, all was right with the world.

She leaves a void in the lives of her family and friends whose only comfort is knowing she is at peace, having answered God's call to come home, she is reunited with her dear mother and father, and loving husband Ray.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, November 28, 2023, 11am at St Pius X Catholic Church, 2502-29th Ave. Rock Island, Illinois, with visitation at the church at 10am. The Mass will be recorded and available via live-stream by visiting https://vimeo.com/885272750.  Interment at Calvary Cemetery, 2901 12th St., Rock Island, Illinois.

In lieu of flowers, you may consider a memorial to Jordan Catholic School or other childhood educational institutions of your choosing, or to the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Comprehensive Care Fund or Palliative Care Fund, addressed to University of Iowa Center for Advancement, 1 West Park Road, Iowa City, 52242.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Wheelan-Pressly of Rock Island; online condolences maybe left at www.wheelanpressly.com

Give to Iowa - Palliative Care Fund
Web: https://donate.givetoiowa.org/s/1773/giving/19/interior.aspx?sid=1773&gid=2&pgid=509&cid=1288&dids=2

Give to Iowa - Stroke Research Fund
Web: https://donate.givetoiowa.org/s/1773/giving/19/interior.aspx?sid=1773&gid=2&pgid=509&cid=1288&bledit