Josephine F. Berg

Jo was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and attended public schools through high school. She graduated from Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota, in 1947. She met her future husband, Robert Berg, while still in high school, and they were married after World War II. After Bob completed his Ph.D. in Geology at the University of Minnesota in 1951, they moved to Denver, Colorado. In Denver, Jo completed a Master’s in Library Science at the University of Denver in 1966. Bob was in the oil business from 1951 to 1967 during which they lived in Denver and Casper, Wyoming. 

Bob had always wanted to teach and in 1967, he was offered the position of Department Head of the Geology Department in the newly formed College of Geosciences at Texas A&M University (TAMU) in College Station, Texas. Jo began working as a Reference Librarian in the rapidly expanding Texas A&M Library complex. In 1980, she received the Association of Former Students Distinguished Librarianship Award for service at the Sterling C. Evans Library. 

After Jo retired in 1994, she became more active in community activities. She was a member of the Friends of the Bryan–College Station Libraries and was President of their Board during the late 1990s. Jo was active in the Woman’s Club and was also a member of the TAMU Women’s Club, League of Women Voters, and the American Association of University Women. Jo was also a member of P.E.O. and a member of two local book clubs. 

Jo and Bob were always involved in stewardship, and they established scholarships in the Geology and Geophysics Department and the Evans Library at Texas A&M, as well as scholarships at Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota and the University of Minnesota. 

Jo was predeceased by her son, James Robert, and her husband, Robert Raymond. She is survived by her son, Charles R. (Sarah), of The Woodlands, Texas, their daughter Camille (Jarrod Fredericks) of The Woodlands. Jo is also survived by her son William R. (Theresa), of Fort Collins, Colorado, their son, Matthew (Derick Reid), of Manhattan, Kansas, and their daughter, Amanda, of Englewood, Colorado. 

Jo was adamant that no service or celebration of life be held. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Music Ministry Fund of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in College Station, Hospice Brazos Valley, or to a charity of choice.