Obituary of Reverend Bergen Frederic "Fred" Berkaw
MARION, Va.
The Reverend Bergen Frederic (Fred) Berkaw, Jr., died Wednesday, June 26, 2019 after a brief illness. He was born in Roanoke, Va., on October 9, 1943, to Bergen Frederic and Susanne Araminta Ellett Berkaw.
At the age of 7, he moved with his family to Charleston, S.C., when his father was called to active duty during the Korean Conflict. Fred returned to Va. to attend VA Tech, where he was in the Corp of Cadets. While there, he met his future wife, Mary Elizabeth Groseclose. They would have celebrated their forty-ninth wedding anniversary in October.
Fred was employed with the State of South Carolina, Department of Disabilities and Special Needs. In retirement, he worked for Super Sod, Absolutely Charleston, and Enterprise.
In 2007, he was ordained as a Deacon in the Diocese of South Carolina (Anglican). He served as a deacon at St. Paul's Church, Summerville, S.C. Upon returning to Mary's native hometown, Marion, Va. in 2015, Fred served monthly as a Deacon at the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, Roanoke, Va., an Anglican Church in the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic (ACANA). He and his wife also worshipped at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Marion, Va.
In addition to his parents, Fred was preceded in death by his brother, Robert Ellett Berkaw; maternal grandparents, Robert Thaddeus and Maude Henderson Ellet; paternal grandparents, Ernest deMun and Lula Bilheimer Berkaw, Sr.
Fred is survived by his wife, Mary Groseclose Berkaw; sister, Mary Neale Berkaw; sisters-in-law, Ida (William) Pugh, and Mildred Ann Groseclose; nephew, Joel (Misty) Pugh and their children, Jack, Mason and Sydney; niece, Julia Pugh and friend, Travis Powell; and numerous first cousins and their families.
Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, July 3, 2019 at 3 p.m. at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Marion, Va. Family will receive friends in the chapel from 2 p.m. until the time of service.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 222 West Main Street, Marion, Va. 24354 or to the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, 4909 North Lake Drive, Roanoke, Va. 24019.
To share memories of the Reverend Bergen Frederic Berkaw, Jr., please visit www.seaverbrown.com. Care for Fred's family has been entrusted to Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory, 237 East Main Street, Marion, Va. 24354.
