TEACHER, FARMER, GRANDPA.

David Leroy Berger died Friday, June 7, 2024, at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He was born in St. Louisville, Ohio, on October 7, 1936, to Grace Lillian (Pound) Berger and Charles David Berger.

He graduated from Newark High School in Newark, Ohio, attained a Bachelor's degree in Secondary Social Studies from Wilmington College in Wilmington, Ohio, and received a Master's of Education degree from Ohio University in Athens, Ohio.

Mr. Berger was well known as a teacher to students in multiple states and several countries around the world throughout his teaching employment, a career spanning a half-century and including multiple trips around the world.

David's work around the world included teaching contracts in Indonesia, Colombia. Morocco, Guam, Yap, and outlying Micronesian Islands.

He had an unfailing curiosity about people, their stories, and their lives, and was the consummate raconteur, always sharing stories that were hilarious, compelling, and uproariously entertaining- no matter how many times you'd heard them before.

He was also known as "Grandpa" to his exponential family, to whom he was beloved-always ready with a joke, witty pun, algebra question, or sage advice.

Mr. Berger's eclectic travels never attenuated his love for farming, gathering hay in the barn, and mowing-regarding each year's plentiful botanical yields as wondrous as the last-cultivated respect for the continuing traditions of family farming in new generations.

David could often be seen on a bicycle-or a kayak-or an Indonesian becak-or some other wheeled contraption, delighting in outdoor activities, and introducing them to others.

He is survived by his children, William D. (Ginny) Berger, of Newark, Ohio, Charles E. Berger, of Mt.Vernon, Ohio, Amy Jo Berger, of Westerville, Ohio,  Karen L. (Craig) Stewart, of Newark, Ohio, Kurt M. (Beth) Berger, of Fairfax Station, VA,  Renda L. (Keith) Presser, of Jacksonville, Florida, Chet A. Berger, of Kettering, Ohio, Renessa K. (Ray)  Castro, of The Woodlands, Texas, and Juliane A. Cartaino, of Hillsboro, Ohio.  He is additionally survived by thirty-seven grandchildren, twenty-one great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Loisanne (Robert) Rockwell, Virginia Meyer, brother Thomas (Barbara) Berger, several nieces and nephews; best friend and companion, Sheila Wisecarver.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Marilyn M. Berger, whom he married on August 15, 1958, in Cincinnati, son, Kip Thomas Berger, and brother, Lloyd Delno Berger.

A funeral service will be held Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. in the St. Louisville United Methodist Church, 127 N. Sugar Street with Pastor Bryan Moore officiating. Burial will follow at Evans Cemetery. Visitation will be observed on Monday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Newark Chapel of Vensil & Chute Funeral Home, 1850 West Main Street.