MADISON—Herbert Charles “Bert” Berding Sr., 88, of Madison, died March 8 from complications of prostate cancer and Parkinson’s disease. Born May 28, 1928, he was the son of the late Herbert George and Irene Richard Berding of Cincinnati, Ohio.

Deacon Bert Berding

Raised in Cincinnati, he graduated from Elder High School, attended the University of Cincinnati and graduated from Xavier University (business administration) and from Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. He served in the United States Army as a master sergeant during the Korean War. He worked for Honeywell, Inc. for 30 years.

After retiring, his dream of a “pick your own berry farm” became sidetracked when he “got started in the diaconate” program. Deacon Berding, whose 42-acre farm was in Madison, was ordained to the permanent diaconate on June 23, 1989, by Archbishop Eugene A. Marino, SSJ.

When he and his wife, Jean, moved to the farm in the mid-1980s, after 18 years as parishioners at St. Jude Church in Sandy Springs, he found opportunities galore for ministry at the mission. “There was no organization when we first came,” he said. Shortly after, he was a member of the steering committee and later the new parish council.

Mission administrators supported the Honeywell retiree’s desire to enter the diaconate program. As a deacon he spent countless hours as a volunteer for The Caring Place, the St. Vincent de Paul Society, and the March for Life.

He and his wife participated in the 60th wedding jubilee celebration sponsored by the archdiocese in 2011.

Deacon Berding was the spiritual director for many years of the annual archdiocesan Rosary Rally committee and master of ceremonies for the Marian celebration.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Jean Mary (Buller) Berding and his six children, daughter Mary (Berding) Stack and husband Jim; son Herbert C. Berding Jr. and wife Kathleen (Welch); son Mark F. Berding and wife Christine (Barrett); daughter Christina (Berding) Stauber and husband Chris; son Terrance A. Berding and Melanie (Layfield); and daughter Marjean (Berding) Meadow and partner James Winkler; 15 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

A funeral Mass was celebrated March 14 at St. James Church.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to: The Caring Place, 1140 Monticello Road, Suite 400, Madison, GA 30650; St. Vincent de Paul Society, c/o St. James Church, 562 Vine St., Madison, GA 30650; and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Home, 760 Pollard Blvd., SW, Atlanta, GA 30315.