Daniel W. Berke, 79, died of brain cancer on October 15, 2008, in Green Valley, Arizona.

He was born on August 2, 1929, to William and Alma (Grabenstein) Berke on the family farm, north of Eustis, Nebraska. Dan was baptized and confirmed at St. John Lutheran, Eustis.

He married Dorothea Riensche on August 21, 1952, in Deshler, Nebraska. To this union four children were born. Dan spent his life on the family farm until moving to the ranch at Farnam, Nebraska, in 1983. Since 1998, winters were spent in Rio Rico, Arizona. Daniel was a member of Desert Hills Lutheran in Green Valley.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Dorothea of Rio Rico; a son, Steven (Lori) Berke of Longmont, Colorado; and three daughters, Carol (Charles) Edwards of Rio Rico, Ann (Richard) Penn of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Miriam Berke of Topeka, Kansas; a brother, Dennis (Nadine) Berke; a sister, Lola (Lyle) Bartlett, both of Cozad, Nebraska; sisters-in-law, Grace Halmi of Denver, Colorado; and Lil (David) Hunsaker of Tubac, Arizona; grandchildren, Chris (Jodi) Edwards of Lincoln, Nebraska, Jeff (Nicole) Edwards of Osage City, Kansas, Daniel (Meredith) Edwards of Columbus, Nebraska, Sarah (Andrew Hestness) Berke of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Clare Berke of Arlington, Virginia, and Carrie and Melissa Penn of Lincoln, Nebraska; great-grandchildren are Dylan, Christian, Rebecca, Clara, Noah and Lily Edwards.

Services were held at Desert Hills Lutheran in Green Valley, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, October 18, 2008.

A brief memorial service will be held Saturday, November 8th, 2008, at 11 a.m. at St. John Lutheran, Eustis. Inurnment will be at St. John Lutheran Cemetery. A lunch will follow at the Eustis Fair Building.

Memorials are suggested to St. John Lutheran Endowment Fund.

Tri-City Tribune, 30 October 2008.