Obituary of Bernard Kaalberg

Bernard John Kaalberg, 86, of Muscatine, died Sunday, October 23, 2005, at Unity Hospital. Funeral Mass will be held 10 a.m. Wednesday, October 26, 2005, at St. Mathias Church, 215 W Eighth Street. The Reverend Troy Richmond will officiate the service. Casket bearers will be Jonathan Kaalberg, Jason Viner, Shane Kaalberg, Jeff Kaalberg, Scott Kaalberg and Travis Kaalberg. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. A Funeral Luncheon will be held at Gannon Hall following the committal. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, October 25, 2005, at the Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home with a Vigil Service at 7 p.m. at the funeral home. Bernard was born on February 7, 1919, in Wilton, the son of Rhinehart and Mary Van Aken Kaalberg. He married Helen Marie James on January 18, 1941, at the St. Mathias Church in Muscatine. She preceded him in death in 1997. He was a veteran of the US Army Air Corps serving as a radio operator during World War II in North Africa, Corsica and Italy. He farmed in the Nichols area until 1966, when the family returned to Muscatine. He then farmed and also worked at Louis Rich for 15 years, retiring in 1997. Survivors include two sons, Thomas Kaalberg and wife, Linda, of West Liberty and James Kaalberg and wife, Nancy, of St. Louis, Missouri; three daughters, Judith Kaalberg of Muscatine, Pam Viner and husband, Bill, of Muscatine, and Brenda Kaalberg of Muscatine; eight grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; one brother, Maurice Kaalberg and wife, Sherrie of West Liberty; and three sisters, Helen Leatherman of Muscatine, Regina Milligan of Waverly, and Anita Leatherman of Marion. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, two brothers, Edwin and Archie, two sisters, Frances, and Florence, and one sister in infancy.