Joseph A. Berberich

Joseph A. Berberich, age 85, of Crofton, Nebraska died on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at his home.

A graveside service will be held at 9:45 AM, on Thursday, July 18, 2024 at Beaver Creek Cemetery in rural Crofton with Reverend Jim Keiter officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Crofton American Legion Post No. 128. Visitation is from 6:00 to 7:00 PM, on Wednesday, July 17 at the Wintz Funeral Home in Crofton with a rosary and vigil service at 7:00 PM. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home in Crofton.

Pallbearers are Justin Christensen, Matt Potts, Shawn Jordan, Al Wieseler, Duane Loecker and Duane Guenther.

Joe was born September 27, 1938 in Yankton, South Dakota to Francis and Edna (Anderson) Berberich. He was the second of three children and grew up on his family's farm in South Yankton. Joe attended Sacred Heart Elementary School in Yankton and graduated from Yankton High School. He attended Southern State Teachers College in Springfield, SD for two years. At age 20, Joe enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served three years of active duty and then three years in the reserves. When he came home, Joe worked for the telephone company in Yankton and then for Northwestern Energy. He also worked part time at Kenny's Service Station in South Yankton. Joe married Genevieve Guenther on January 29, 1966, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Crofton, NE. After their marriage, they moved to Colorado Springs, CO, and he worked at Fort Carson as an electric lineman for 12 years. During this time, Joe was a member of the Navy Seabees. In 1978, he and his family moved back to South Dakota and he started farming full time in Yankton County. He started near Mission Hill, and then moved to a farm near Marindahl Lake. Next, he built a home near the Jim River. His final move was to build a home in Cedar County by the Missouri River close to where he grew up. Joe loved farming, enjoyed working with his animals and enjoyed the company of his dogs. He and Genevieve loved spending time on their pasture land near Miller Creek where Joe enjoyed working with his Skid Steer clearing cedar trees and controlling the weeds. Joe was a very hard worker and always saw something that needed to be done – and when he did it, it was always done the right way.

Joe is survived by his wife, Genevieve who he lovingly called “Suz”; three children: Michael Berberich of Mission Hill, SD, Mary (Jim) Elsen of Yankton, SD and Julie (Chad) Torkelson of Vermillion, SD; his granddaughter, Elizabeth Elsen; sister, Mary (Alois) Klimczyk of Crofton; and several nieces and nephews.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; granddaughter, Suzanne Josey Berberich; grandparents, George and Elizabeth (Hunhoff) Berberich and Frederick and Isabel (Kaiser) Anderson; and a brother, Lawrence (Jean) Berberich.