Frederick W. "Fritz" Berning, 90 years old of Hoagland, Indiana, passed away on Monday, November 26, 2012 in the New Haven Care & Rehabilitation. He was born on Tuesday, February 21, 1922 in Allen County, Indiana the son of the late Fred C. Berning and the late Marie M. (Grote) Berning. He married Florence M. Siebert on September 16, 1951. Fritz served in the United States Army during WWII. He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Bingen; the Men's Club of the church; and Allen County Farm Bureau. Fritz was a lifelong dairy and grain farmer in southern Allen County. Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Florence M. Berning of Hoagland; daughter, Elaine (Jim) McDonald of Tempe, Arizona; son, Norman (Cynthia) Berning of Hoagland; son, Dean Berning of Decatur; son, Roger Berning of Hoagland; and sister, Leila Judt of Fort Wayne. He is also survived by fifteen grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, one step great-grandchild. Preceding Frederick in death were a sister, Ottilia Kiefer and a brother, Arthur Berning. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, December 2, 2012 in the St. John Lutheran Church, Bingen with Pastor Peter Brock officiating. Interment will follow in the St. John Lutheran Cemetery , Bingen. . Friends will be received from 2 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, December 1 in the Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Decatur and one hour prior to the funeral service at the church on Sunday. Preferred memorials are to St. John Lutheran Church, Bingen; Worship for Shut-Ins; or the donor's choice.
