Joan C. Berg's Obituary
Joan Charlotte Berg, age 95, of Federal Way, Washington passed away peacefully on November 4, 2016. Born August 5, 1921, in Warren, Minnesota, she was the daughter of August Albin Johnson (who emigrated from Sweden at age 12) and Anna Gustafson. The family moved to Langdon, ND, and Joan was her high school's valedictorian in 1939. After graduation, Joan's sister Lucille and husband Jerome invited Joan to live with them in Hollywood. She received her Associates degree from City College of Los Angeles, and met Karl Berg while attending Angelica Lutheran Church. In 1943, Karl re-enlisted in the Marines and trained in Quantico, VA. When he was commissioned as an officer, Karl proposed and Joan traveled from California to marry him in Washington, DC, on August 5, 1943. Joan worked in the Chinese Embassy while Karl continued his training, and they traveled back to California in 1944. Karl was sent to Hawaii for further training, and he survived the Marines' assault on Iwo Jima in 1945. They were reunited on Christmas Day, 1945. The couple moved to Minnesota in 1946 so that Karl could attend college.
While taking care of their new son David, Joan began her "Contesting" career. Her very first attempt at a 25-word jingle won her a 1947 Chevrolet. Less than a year later she won a Cadillac. Joan continued winning prizes large and small. Her most recognizable jingle included "indescribably delicious," a slogan used by Peter Paul candies for over 40 years. Joan won a recipe contest at the Space Needle in 1968, and designed the 1977 McChord Air Force base Daffodil Parade float that featured the words "The 'Cord' that Ties Puget Sound to the World." In her 7" thick scrapbook of contest winnings, Joan thanked God for the inspiration for her creativity and word skills.
Joan's work included being a Lutheran Missionary in Japan, and Secretary for the church that Karl started near San Francisco. When he became a Protestant Chaplain at American Lake Hospital, Joan was Secretary to George Weyerhaeuser and the Office Manager for forestry company Silvaseed in Roy, WA.
Joan is preceded in death by husband Karl; sons David and Cameron; sister Lucille and brother Alrie. She is survived by son Brian and daughter-in-law Joyce Avery of Saratoga, CA; sister Janice Odien of Upland, CA and granddaughters Elizabeth Berg of Boston, MA, Natalie Berg of Saratoga, CA and Ingrid Berg of Oakland, CA, as well as many relatives in southern California, Washington and Minnesota.
There will be a niche-side service at Mountain View Funeral Home & Memorial Park on Friday, November 11, 2016 at 3:30pm, followed by a reception at The Ram Restaurant at Lakewood Towne Center.
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