Courtesy of the Berkner Family
An Invitation from the Berkner Family
“Saguaro Sunset” by Tom Morris
Please join us in a Celebration of Life on April 9th , 2016, 10:30 am at the Holy Redeemer Catholic Cemetery – 23015 N. Cave Creek Road Phoenix, AZ. to be followed by a reception at his home. Please come and bring your favorite Horst story to share with us all.
In lieu of flowers we ask for Memorial Donations to be made to:
Greater Pinnacle Peak Association (GPPA)
8711 E. Pinnacle Pea Road #123
Scottsdale, AZ 85255
Hospice of the Valley
Sherman House
1510 E. Flower St
A Tribute by the Berkner Family
Horst Berkner, Director
Horst Dieter Berkner died peacefully on January 20, 2016 after an arduous and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.
Horst was born in Dessau Germany on November 30, 1935 into a world that was on the edge of chaos.
Gratefully, he and his family survived that time in Germany including the bombing of their city; by the time they left Dessau their house was the last one standing on their block. In 1948 they immigrated to Muskegon Michigan as part of the US Paperclip project, where he graduated from Muskegon Heights HS in 1953 and began his college career in Flint Michigan. His father accepted a job at AVCO Lycoming and moved the family to Stratford CT. Horst later joined the family in CT and transferred to the University of Connecticut where he met his future wife Barbara Hurson.
He and Barb were married on December 15, 1956 and they moved to Stratford where they raised three loving children. Horst had put his college career on hold to begin his family and with perseverance and determination he prevailed in completing that degree after 10 years of night school, Horst graduated with a Degree in Mechanical Engineering from University of Bridgeport in Jan 1966.
Horst spent most of his professional life working for AVCO Lycoming in Stratford. He began his career as a draftsman and after obtaining his degree was promoted to a design engineer, and later on became the
Director of Design Engineering. One of his greatest accomplishments was his instrumental participation in the design of the AGT1500 engine which is currently in use in the US Army’s Abrhams A-1 tank and on display at the Smithsonian Air Museum in DC.
When AVCO was purchased by Honeywell in 1995, he and Barb took that opportunity to move with the company to Phoenix, AZ. This began the second stage in their lives. In 2000 he retired from Honeywell and they settled into becoming natives of Arizona. He quickly found many passions to fill his time, such as teaching at the local Community College, working as an H&R Block agent, Real Estate Agent and being an active member of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association (GPPA).
Sadly Barbara passed away in October of 2005. That changed his life greatly and he filled that void by working to help to sustain the character of his community. He ultimately earned a position on the board of Greater Pinnacle Peak Association (GPPA). It was at that time he met Ginger Schoenau and they quickly realized their common interests of Arizona, family and the community around them. They traveled, worked and enjoyed the time they had together. That bond was cemented, in a commitment ceremony on January 14, 2016.
We will remember him for many things, but what defined him most was a commitment to family and his boundless energy, a strength that was borne from a life of hard work and dedication. He always made us
(His family) a priority; be it coaching the swim team or driving 14 hours to take a summer vacation. His zeal was boundless and his excitement contagious when doing projects. He always had something going on.
He helped his children build anything they wanted from bunk beds to homes and everything in between.
He taught us that “you can build, fix, make or accomplish anything, you just have to try and believe… “.
His home was always open for his children and grandchildren with an invitation to come whenever they wanted. He created opportunities for all of us to be together that would not have happened without his complete support. Our summers at Sandy Point Beach, and most recently in Canada are bookends to that pledge. We will miss dearly him.
We would like to thank all of his friends for their support of both he and Ginger over the past few years, and a special acknowledgment to Hospice of the Valley for creating a truly tranquil space for all of us to spend his last days together.
Horst was predeceased by his wife Barbara (Hurson) Berkner, his parents Hans and Sigrid Berkner, and brother Lutz Berkner. He is survived by his partner Ginger Schoenau, his three children: Sandra Berkner,
Paul Berkner, Gregory Berkner, sister Sigrid Berkner, brother Klaus Berkner, grandsons: Jacob Berkner, Jason Holowesko, Justin Berkner, Peter Berkner, Ryan Holowesko, Bernard Berkner, and Arthur Berkner, and great grandsons; Jesse Berkner, Alek Berkner, and Caleb Berkner. In addition, he leaves behind, his sister-in-law Dimi Berkner and a host of nieces and nephews.
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