Berger
Melroy Gilbert Berger passed away peacefully surrounded by family on June 29, 2026. He was born to Albert and Adela (Kainer) Berger on Oct. 26, 1931 in Weimar.
Melroy attended Wildwood country school in Weimar and Weimar Elementary School. He graduated from Weimar High School in 1949 and entered the U.S. Army in January of 1954. After completing his basic training at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Melroy was assigned to a base near Washington D.C. where he was part of an anti-aircraft artillery group responsible for protecting our nation’s capitol from potential attacks from the Soviet Union during the Cold War. Following his discharge from military service, he returned to La Grange and began working as a mechanic at Janssen Brothers. In 1965, he was asked to teach auto mechanics at La Grange High School as the La Grange ISD expanded its vocational education program. While teaching, he completed his Associate in Arts Degree at Blinn College in Brenham and his required teaching certifications through Texas A&M University and University of Texas. Melroy taught auto mechanics for 21 years. Upon retiring from teaching, he joined his sons at their business, Berger’s Auto Body Shop, doing mechanic work.
Melroy married Rosalie (Rose) Marie Muras on July 9, 1955, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Holman. They were married for 67 years when Rose passed away in January of 2023. Together they raised four children, Betty, Cathy, David, and Kenneth.
Melroy has been a lifetime resident of La Grange. He took great pride in raising cattle on the land his parents purchased in 1945. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He was a parishioner of Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Hostyn and a member of the K.J.T.
Melroy is survived by his daughter, Betty Moser (Pete) of Brookshire; daughter, Cathy Simmons (Jay) of Katy; son, Kenneth Berger (Becky) of La Grange; ten grandchildren: Andrew (Jennifer) Berger, Joshua (Bethany) Berger, Elizabeth (Adam) Kristoff, Brian Berger, Lauryn Brinkley (Jason), Lindsey (Nathan) Burks, Dylan (Mollie) Moser, Allison (Mark) Ferro, Elyse Simmons, and Jillian Simmons; fifteen great-grandchildren: Braxton, Bexley, andAshtyn Berger and Haylee and Hannah Mitchell; Cullen, Bowen, and Teagan Berger; Aiden Sump; Ava Brinkley; Aubrey, Harper, and Scarlett Burks; Charlotte Moser; and Greyson Ferro; sister-in-law, Gladys Muras of Dubina; special friend, Nancy Berger, of La Grange; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Rose Berger, his son, David Berger, his parents, Albert and Adela Berger; sister and brother-in-law, Mae Ann and Alvin Kleihege, infant brother, Dennis Berger, and infant sister, Yvonne Berger.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church Building Fund or a charity of your choice.
A visitation is scheduled for Wednesday, July 8, 2026, from 12-7 p.m. Rosary will be recited at Koenig-Bellvill Funeral Home at 7 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for Thursday, July 9, 2026, at 10 a.m. at the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Plum with a graveside service with military honors at Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery in Hostyn.