Ben Berg Obituary

Ben Conrad Berg Jr., M.D., 89, of Peoria, father of a Plainfield resident, died Sunday, June 12, 2011, at home in Peoria.

He was born June 3, 1922, in Newton, Iowa, to Ben C. Berg Sr. and Emma Hall Berg.

Dr. Berg graduated in 1943 from the University of Iowa with a bachelor of arts degree before serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was a line officer in command of an LCT and LSMR in the amphibious forces in the Southwest and West Pacific theatres and participated in multiple landing invasions from New Guinea, the Philippine Islands, and Okinawa.

He remained in the Naval Reserves, serving as a medical officer from 1947 to 1998, before retiring as a captain.

After World War II, he earned a doctorate in medicine from the University of Iowa College of Medicine in 1951. He began his medical career by serving his internship and residency in radiology at the Youngstown Hospital Association in Youngstown, Ohio. He practiced there for 19 years, becoming chairman of the Radiology Department, then served a fellowship in nuclear medicine at the Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, N.Y.

From 1970 to 1991, he practiced radiology and nuclear medicine with the Peoria Radiology Associates at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, where he was head of the Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Radiology and founder and director of the School of Nuclear Medicine Technology.

He served as an associate professor of radiology, Illinois School of Medicine at Peoria, and was a member of many medical professional societies. He was also a member of the American Registry of Examination Committee of Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification.

Dr. Berg was known internationally in the field of nuclear medicine, particularly in the field of emergency medicine or trauma through his many professional publications, seminar presentations, and membership in specialty certification examination boards. He was a fellow of the American College of Radiology, the Society of Nuclear Medicine, the American College of Nuclear Medicine and was a member of the scientific research society Sigma Xi.

He was actively involved in his community and church as a member of Gideons International North Camp; member and past chair of the Peoria Prayer Breakfast Committee; member and elder of Northwoods Community Church in Peoria; member of the Peoria chapter of the Christian Medical/Dental Society; and a member of Alpha Kappa Kappa medical fraternity and Delta Chi social fraternity.

Dr. Berg was a talented cartoonist and enjoyed sketching cartoons for family and friends, including the cookbook "Just What the Doctor Ordered!" for the Peoria Medical Society Auxiliary.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Lois Ardel Buenz-Berg of Peoria; three daughters, Sandra Berg-Wheeler of Peoria, Nancy Berg-Dunker of Plainfield, Ill., and Betsy Berg of Dallas, Texas; a son, R. Scott (Anne Miller) Berg of Fernandina Beach, Fla.; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Louise Berg-Harrington of Newton, Iowa; and a brother, John W. (Judy Brist) Berg of Eau Claire, Wis.

A visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, June 16, at Northwoods Community Church, 10700 N. Allen Road, Peoria, IL 61615. A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, June 17, at 10 a.m. at Northwoods Community Church. Interment will be in Swan Lake Memory Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gideons International Peoria North Camp, South Side Mission or Northwoods Community Church.

Online condolences may be given to the family at www.thewiltonmortuary.com.

This obituary was originally published in the Peoria Journal Star.