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June Berg - Valentine's Day - 2011

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Published on Sunday, 13 February 2011 02:24
Written by Stanton O. Berg

June and Stan Berg 1990

June, on this day for sweethearts, I miss you so very much .The pain of your absence does not lesson with the passing years. Again, this Valentines Day, I will have a little lobby table for you and I at the Sofitel for reminiscences and toasting the past happier years before Alzheimer’s took over our life.

Your Alzheimer’s diagnosis came in January 1998. You knew at a very early date, the blackness and the depth of the distant approaching Alzheimer’s storm clouds. You displayed a concern for me. I remember well that Sunday (Ca. 1999) when you brought home the “Care Notes” pamphlet from our church - “Handling Grief as a Man.” You said nothing; you just left it out for me to find and to read. I remember the time that you detected one of my episodes of emotional sadness as I watched your illness progress. You tried to console me by saying “Don’t worry, I will be alright Stan!” I am sure at the time, you and I both really knew otherwise. Thereafter, I lost you slowly, tear drop by tear drop. After a long and exhausting journey into the shadows of Alzheimer’s, God mercifully took you home on Thursday October 23rd, 2008.

On the following Valentines Day in 2009,  I wrote about you… “Seeing June”. as inspired by the old song:

 "I'll be Seeing You".

 I am finding you in all the old familiar places

That this heart of mine embraces all day through.

In the little French cafe, that is just across the way.

The children's laughter, the trees of fall, the snows soon after. 

I'll be finding you in every lovely summer's day.

In everything that's bright and fun. 

I always think of you that way.

I'll find you in the morning sun -And when the night is new -

I'll be looking at the moon - but I'll be seeing June!

I still see and feel your presence at 6025 Gardena Lane, our home for many years...in every room that I enter and in every drawer, cabinet or closet that I open. I find your loving presence in the hundreds of poignant little reminders.

I find you in the living room by the fireplace on a cold winter day...

I find you at the Redeemer Lutheran Church Sanctuary for every Sunday’s morning service, and at Tuesday’s Redeemer Bible Study - later in the Little old Heritage Chapel you loved.

I found you on "Wings of Song" at our Redeemer Church Christmas Choir Concert.

I find your presence in the sounds of the violin strains at Culver’s on the Saturday afternoon “old time” music sessions.

I find you at our favorite French Cafe, The Sofitel...at the little lobby table with a basket of bread, wine and a fruit plate...later in the little lobby gift/card shop.

I find you at Rosedale having your favorite Caribou Coffee at a little atrium table...and then in your favorite Hallmark card shop.

Where ever there are joyful little children, I find your loving and caring presence among them.

I find you at the Anoka Lyric Theater’s Sunday afternoon productions.

I find you at the Christmas Eve family gatherings.

I find you every Wednesday noon at Lakewood and shortly thereafter in the little “Holy Spirit” Chapel at the Benedictine Health Care Center of Innsbruck.

I Now I find you at the Fridley Applebee’s in our specially designated “June Berg” and “Stan Berg” booth.

I find you daily as my mind reminisces and dreams about the past times and the many trips you and I made around the US and Europe on forensic science travels.

I find you in the Bible. You were my wife of “Virtuous Character” as described in the Old Testament and your worth was and is “far more than rubies.”    (Proverbs 31: 10)

Not a day passes that I do not think of you the first thing in the morning and the last thing at night. Not a day passes that I do not talk with you as I look at one of your pictures. Your million dollar signature smile - automatically brings a simile to my face.

Every day also has its sad notes - not a day has passed since Alzheimer’s has taken you away that I have not been gripped by moments of sadness.

Often times when I return to the house after dark, and as I snap on the lights I imagine what it would be like to find you sitting there with your radiant smile.

Happy Valentine ’s Day sweetheart, I will love you forever!!

Stan

 

 (Published in the Minneapolis Star - Tribune on Valentine's Day 14 February 2011.)

 

This is the link to the KARE 11 TV's  Valentine's Day story 2011 on June and Stan:

Man Honor's Wife of 56 Years on Valentine's Day 2011. 

 

After battling Alzheimer's for almost 11 years, an exhausted June was called home by God on October 23rd, 2008. Her funeral notice as published in the Minneapolis Star in October 2008 can be seen on this website under the "In Memoriam" label -   Click on:

"June K. (Rolstad) Berg - In Memoriam".