Charles R Berg, Jr. was born on February 22, 1945, in Bakersfield, CA. to Charles R Berg and Lottie Inez Blanton. Colonel Berg was an Army intelligence officer who was required to travel frequently. He took his young family around the world with him. They finally settled in southern California where Charlie Jr. and his sister Susan completed their schooling.

After high school. Charlie enlisted in the US Army in 1963. He did his overseas duty in Germany and was assigned to an artillery unit. He was honorably discharged in July 1966. Charlie then worked in the copy department of a prestigious Los Angeles engineering company. Not satisfied with "working in the basement", he quit. He found working outdoors more to his liking. He picked different kinds of fruit in the many orchards and farms in southern California. His favorite fruits were cherries and watermelon. He drove farm equipment and learned to fix them.

As maturity slowly crept in, he went east and became custodian in a school district in Blythe. He worked there for 12 years until the travel bug bit him again. Life found him next working in the gold and silver mines of Nevada. He drove and fixed heavy vehicles. He learned to pan for gold in his free time.

Traveling northward, he did a brief stint working in the kitchen at a Chinese restaurant in Oregon. The head cook said he was too slow chopping vegetables! At this stage of life, Charlie had lost the tips of several fingers from accidents incurred in previous employment. Charlie then found some comfort at a mission where he lived and worked for about 2 years.

Ron Bretbrunner, who became a lifelong friend, persuaded him to join the trip to northern Idaho to find work. Finally, Charlie settled in Benewah County and spent the remaining days of his life on Sanders Road. Charlie passed away at 80 years old on December 18, 2025, at Kootenai hospital in Coeur d'Alene.

Charlie was a quiet, private person. Through his travels, he learned to be frugal, not knowing when and where he would get his next meal. He was a hard worker and said as long as he had 2 hands, he would work. He never married and was friendly to all. He enjoyed driving around on ATVs, fishing and picking huckleberries with his neighbors. Charlie was an avid reader and frequented the library. He enjoyed mystery and futuristic tales. His favorite author was J D Robb.

Charlie will be missed by Liza McCurdy and Trip, Jim Leroy, Carol Ranta, Kirsten Dahl and neighbors Kimberly and Shannon Dodd, Tim, Cheryl and Aaron Wolfinbarger, Jason and Laurie Frank, Lisa and Wayne Fuller, Gary Sitek and Jack Fisk. 

Rest in peace, friend. May you breathe sweet air at your final destination.