Clifford Berberich

Clifford R. "Cliff" Berberich, age 83, of Waseca, died Monday, September 8, 2008 at the Lake Shore Inn Nursing Home in Waseca.   Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 12, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at the McRaith Funeral Home in Waseca, with the Rev. Neil Westby, Pastor of the Faith United Methodist Church in Waseca, officiating. Interment will be held at the Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis.   Visitation will be held at the McRaith Funeral Home on Friday from 9:00 a.m. until the hour of services.   Clifford Russell, the son of Joseph and Esther (Edmunds) Berberich, was born on December 19, 1924 in Mankato, MN. As a boy Cliff and his family lived on Minnesota Street in Mankato. Cliff and his brother and friends spent many days fishing and swimming in the Minnesota River. He attended Mankato High School. Cliff served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He served with the 103rd Cactus Division as a combat medic, landing at Marseilles, France on Oct. 20, 1944 and crossed the Voges Mountains into central France. The 103rd fought in many major battles in France and Germany and finished the war at Innsbruck, Austria. After his service time Cliff worked as a mail carrier in Mankato and also built eight homes. In 1945 he was united in marriage to Mildred Dukerschein in Mankato and they were later divorced. In 1960, he moved to California and worked in music sales and drove truck for 20 years, retiring in 1986. During that time, in 1964, Cliff married Phyllis Hanson in Las Vegas, NV and they later divorced. Cliff moved back to Minnesota in 1996 and lived in Waseca until his death. In retirement Cliff enjoyed socializing with his friends, playing poker, gambling, fishing and spending time with his cat "Baby". Cliff also loved to hunt pheasants with his cousins and sons at his uncle Leonard's in Comfrey, MN.   He is survived by five children, Craig (Theresa) Berberich of Waseca, Brad (Mary) Berberich of Mankato, Larry (Susan) Berberich of Brunswick, Maine, June Berberich of Mankato and Sherry (Dave) Vant Hul of Hull, IA; by 12 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren; by his brother, John Berberich of Bayport, MN; by his sister, Lois (Rollin) Allen of Wickenburg, AZ; by a brother in law, Gerry Warneke of Portland, OR and nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.   He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Betty Warneke, his nephew Michael Allen and his sister in law, Beth Berberich.