Obituary: Gloria Berg

Sept. 23, 1927 – Jan. 8, 2024

Gloria Berg, age 96 of Sister Bay, “flew away” (as she spoke of it) to her heavenly home on Jan. 8, 2024, at her daughter’s home in Egg Harbor. She passed away on the same date as her mother had, 45 years prior.

Gloria was born on Sept. 23, 1927, to Ernest and Gladys (Hedeen) Isaacson at their home in Sister Bay, the present-day Boathouse on the Bay. The third of four children, she had an idyllic childhood in Door County. Summer swimming in the bay turned to winter ice skating at their family’s beachfront property, today’s Rainbow Cottages. Young Gloria enjoyed horseback riding and sledding/skiing down Sam’s Hill (Hill Road). Her summer jobs included picking cherries and cleaning guest rooms at Liberty Park Lodge.

As a schoolgirl, Gloria studied piano and tenor saxophone. Throughout her life, she played in saxophone trios and quartets in church. She accompanied singers on the piano, including her husband, Bill, who was a soloist. She often played for her own relaxation. Her children remember falling asleep with their mom softly playing hymns on the piano. She loved to sing and had a song for absolutely everything, right up until the day she died. A Swedish proverb hanging in her home read “Those who wish to sing always find a song.” Gloria wrote poems and enjoyed doing so for her family on special occasions. She could recite nursery rhymes word for word, that she still remembered from her years as a teacher of little ones. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren loved hearing them.

Gloria’s father, Ernest Isaacson, started Bayview Bus Line in 1927, a much-needed transportation service running between Northern Door and Manitowoc for many years. She recalled boarding one of her family’s busses and catching a ride to piano lessons!

Gloria was a graduate of Gibraltar High School, and went on to study at Bethel College in Saint Paul, Minnesota and at Miss Wood’s Kindergarten & Primary School, an innovative teacher training school that’s now an affiliate of Macalester College in Saint Paul. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, she taught kindergarten and first grade in Wisconsin and Illinois.

Gloria met Bill Berg at Bible camp as a young girl, and they reconnected at Bethel College. Gloria and Bill married in 1951 at the old Sister Bay Baptist Church on Maple Drive. They went on to have four children. The Berg family lived in Sturgeon Bay, Stevens Point, Bloomington, Minnesota and Green Bay. Gloria and Bill’s life together was built on a foundation of strong faith. Their home was full of unconditional love, acceptance and humor. They practiced what they preached and were always helping others. They were musical and sang duets together in church, where Bill lead the choir and Gloria taught Sunday school and played piano.

Bill was outgoing and lit up a room with his jokes and personality. Gloria was Bill’s biggest fan and best audience. We’re still not sure who laughed harder at Bill’s jokes, Gloria… or Bill.

After 43 happy years of marriage, Bill passed away in a car accident in 1993 at the age of 67. Following Bill’s death, Gloria returned to her home village of Sister Bay and settled into a house near her young grandchildren. She cheerfully offered her help with the little ones.

After 10 years in Sister Bay, Gloria met Glenn Sitte at her church, First Baptist in Sister Bay. They married in 2003. Gloria and Glenn enjoyed winters in Florida, and they were active into their 90s, often going on daily two-mile walks! Glenn’s family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were very special to Gloria. A month after celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary, Glenn passed away just two days before Gloria.

Gloria’s God-given gift was caring for and mentoring children. In her younger years, she helped out by taking her nieces and nephews into her home on many occasions. She loved being a mom and had an undeniable connection with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed keeping up with each of their lives and cherished individual time will all of them. Shortly before her passing, she held her youngest great-grandson and just beamed, as she always did with a baby in her arms. Her family referred to her as the “Child Whisperer.”

For the last 18 months of her life, Gloria was thankful to live with and be cared for by her oldest daughter, Vickie, with help from Gloria’s other children. The entire family is forever grateful to Vickie for her love and sacrifice.

Gloria’s legacy is one of kindness and positive thinking. She always saw the bright side and appreciated the little things – like the spring blossoms or a good jigsaw puzzle. She lived her life with quiet confidence, deep faith and humor. Her family is thankful for her love and constant prayers, and will always remember her legendary homemade apple pie, rice pudding and rye bread. A quote from Abraham Lincoln sums it up, “All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel mother.” Truly a life well lived.

Among the many who mourn Gloria’s passing are her children, Vickie Gonzales, Julie (Tim) Nyberg, Sherrie (Gary) Willems, and Jim (Kelly) Berg; ten grandchildren and their families, including 10 great-grandchildren; stepsons, Murray (Kathy) Sitte and Todd (Carla) Sitte and their families; younger sister, Dottie Larson and brother-in-law Bud Larson; sister-in-law Faye Isaacson; and her many nieces and nephews.

Gloria was preceded in death by her first husband, Bill Berg in 1993; her second husband, Glenn Sitte in 2024; parents and parents-in-law; siblings, Evelyn Hulbert and Roger Isaacson; brother-in-law, Paul Hulbert; and nephew, Scott Isaacson.

The family wishes to thank Unity Hospice for their exceptional and compassionate care of Gloria in her final weeks.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Gloria in late spring at Dovetail Grill in Sister Bay. Please join us on Saturday, June 8, 2024, from 2-4:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Gloria’s name to the Boys and Girls Club of Door County, P.O. Box 579, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 or you may donate through their website https://bgcblr.org/door-county/.

Casperson Funeral Home in Sister Bay is assisting the Berg family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Gloria may be shared with her family through her tribute page at caspersonfuneralhome.com