Louis William “Skeeter” Berg, 87, of Mazeppa, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, February 20, 2024, at the Zumbrota Care Center surrounded by his family. He was born in Mankato on August 12, 1936, to Lyall and Marie (Marzinske) Berg. He graduated from High School in New Richland, MN in 1954. He served in the United States Army Reserve from 1954 until his honorable discharge in 1962. On June 9, 1955, he married the love of his life, Elaine Sable in New Richland. They lived in New Richland until moving to Mazeppa in 1960. They shared 59 years of marriage before Elaine’s passing on February 22, 2015. Skeeter worked for S&S Step Company while also driving school bus, retiring in 1986. He and Elaine were also part owners of the Coffee Cup Café in Mazeppa for 13 years. In the late 60’s, Skeeter started the Skeeter & the Sundowners Band playing at numerous weddings and social events over the years. His favorite past times included music, dancing, bowling, attending his grandchildren’s sporting events, and tinkering with broken things. He was a fan of the Minnesota Vikings and Twins. He enjoyed huggy-buggies with his grandchildren and going for rides to get the newspaper, which soon turned into family events. Skeeter was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Mazeppa and the Mazeppa American Legion Post 588.
He is survived by his six children, Denise (Bob) Poncelet of Mazeppa, Dennis (Colleen) Berg of Mazeppa, DeAnn (Mike) Horsman of Mazeppa, Debbie (Dan) Dettmer of Zumbro Falls, Delane (Jon) Liffrig of Mazeppa, and Daryl Berg of Rochester; 24 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Kathy Berg of New Richland, Sylvia Berg of New Richland, Evelyn Berg of New Ulm, and Doris Klein of Mazeppa; brothers-in-law, Dennis Grunwald of Ellendale and Harold (Linda) Sable of Red Wing; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine; son, Dean; grandson, Trevor Dettmer; parents, Lyall and Marie; sister, Barb Grunwald; brothers, Stan, Robert, and Bill Berg; in-laws, Fred and Irene Sable; and brother-in-law, Duane Klein.
Funeral Service will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, February 26, 2024, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Mazeppa with Reverend Alan Horn officiating. Visitation will be from 2 until 5 p.m. on Sunday, February 25, 2024, at the Mahn Family Funeral Home in Zumbrota and for one hour prior at the church on Monday. Burial will be at the Mazeppa Cemetery with military honors provided by the Mazeppa Honor Guard. A celebration of Skeeter’s life will follow the funeral service on Monday, at the Mazeppa Community Center from 12 until 4 p.m.
