Marjorie Ann Berg

Marj had various interests, but most of all, she LOVED to travel! She has been to every continent except Antarctica, and although she fully expected to get there, she never realized that goal. However, a portion of her ashes will be sprinkled on that continent by a friend who intends to visit. Countries she visited include England, France, Italy, Germany, Russia, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Canada, Alaska, Netherlands, Malta, Lichenstein, Belgium, Greece, Turkey, several of the Greek Islands, Virgin Islands, Many small Carribean Islands, Puerto Rico, Barbados, Grenada, Haiti, Aruba, Curacuo, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Galapagos, Bolivia, traveled the Amazon, Costa Rica, Thailand, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania including Transylvania, Phillipines, Tahiti, Moorea and Samoa. Also visited most of the states in the US.

Marj taught Speech and Theatre at the local Community College. She retired after having worked as a Veteran's Rep at the State of CA, EDD offices in Oxnard. She had many occupations and liked all of them.

Marj underwent far too many surgeries, including a replacement hip surgery which she hoped would allow her to walk more upright after having been bent over almost 90 degrees for the last seven years of her life. Unfortunately that surgery didn't help much, and she spent her last years leaning on walkers and grocery carts.

Birth: Sep. 19, 1935 Death: Oct. 1, 2012

• ** In Memory of Marjorie ***

Marjorie Berg, a longtime volunteer and director with the Conejo Players Theatre, has died.

Berg, of Camarillo, died Monday evening at St. John's Pleasant Valley Hospital after a long illness, according to her son Dav!d. She was 77.

"She was an inspiration," said her son, who lives in San Diego. "She was a teacher, a mentor, an activist. A lot of people wouldn't have done theater if not for her."

Marjorie Berg was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on Sept. 19, 1935. At 17, she joined the Air Force as a radio technician and was honorably discharged when she became pregnant with her first child.

After moving to Ventura County, she worked as an administrative assistant for Semtech Corp. in Newbury Park and as a talent booking manager for the Ventura County Fair. Before retiring in 2010, she served as the Ventura County veterans liaison for the state Employment Development Department, helping returning veterans find jobs.

Berg also found time to study English, theater and psychology at CSU Northridge, graduating in 1977.

She began directing productions at the Conejo Players Theater in 1975 and continued until 2008. Her last production was the 2008 revival of the theater's first production, "Nude With Pineapple," to mark the group's 50th anniversary.

Rick Steinberg, executive director of the Conejo Players, said Wednesday he was still in shock at Berg's death.

"I met her in 1981 in a production of 'Pipe Dream,' " Steinberg said. "She was a wonderful person and a great friend."

Steinberg said Berg was involved in local theaters throughout Ventura County and founded the Magnificent Moorpark Melodrama and Vaudeville Company.

"She once told me, 'The thing about community theatre is it's not just to entertain people; it's to educate people, too,' " Steinberg said. "She will definitely be missed."

Rob Schneider, of Thousand Oaks, is an assistant professor of musical theater at Pennsylvania State University. He said he met Berg as a child at the Conejo Players Theatre.

"I was 12 years old, and I wanted to get involved in the theater," said Schneider, 30, by phone from Pennsylvania. "I went backstage one day, and I said, 'How can I help?' She literally sat me down, and we spent the rest of the day putting a set together."

"I always remember how kind and generous Marj was, and I try to emulate her," he said. "She was a huge influence on me and who I turned out to be."

In addition to Dav!d, Berg is survived by her other sons, Larry and Stuart Berg; daughters, Mari Vaughn and Lori Berg; nine grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

A memorial service for Berg will take place at 8 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Conejo Players Theatre at 351 S. Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks. All who knew her are invited.

Berg's ashes will be scattered at sea in accordance with her wishes. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Berg's name to the Ventura County Battered Women's Shelter.

Source: Ventura County Star

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b. Fort Dodge, Webster, Iowa d. Camarillo, California

Father: Orville Leslie Crouse Mother: Evelyn M. Bock Crouse

She had two older brothers, Leslie who was killed in Viet Nam (1932-1968) and Charles (1930-).

To honor her, Marjorie did not want a service, she wanted a party.

On Sunday, October 21, 2012 at 8pm the Conejo Players hosted this party in Thousand Oaks. Everyone was welcome to come, speak of her, perform for her or anything they wanted to do in her remembrance. The theatre was available for dances, skits, musical numbers, or whatever.

Marjorie would have loved having everyone enjoy themselves thoroughly. She asked that nobody send or bring flowers. She always thought flowers should be given to people while they are alive. Instead, persons who felt the need to give something were encouraged to give to the Battered Women's Shelter of Ventura in her honor.

Her son, David, a professional yacht captain, was captain of the yawl JADA for the scattering of ashes which occurred off the coast of San Diego California on October 23, 2012. Her daughters, Mari and Lori, were present, but her sons, Larry and Stuart, were not. Her grandson Jeff (Larry's son) was there. Many other of her close friends accompanied the short voyage.

After the death of her father, her mother Evelyn remarried to Arthur Kallansrud and had 3 more children: Dolores, Earl, and Arthur Jr., all of whom are still living. They were much younger than Marjorie, so she really didn't get to know them well. She went off to join the Air Force when they were little children.

U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-Current Name: Marjorie A Berg BORN: 19 Sep 1935 Died: 1 Oct 2012 State (Year) SSN issued: Iowa (Before 1951)

Family links:

Parents:

 Orville Leslie Crouse (1902 - 1946)

Sibling:

 Leslie Dewayne Crouse (1931 - 1968)*

 Marjorie A Crouse Berg (1935 - 2012)

*Calculated relationship

Burial: Cremated, Ashes scattered at sea.

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Created by: Hooked On Family Record added: Oct 02, 2012 Find A Grave Memorial# 98188437