Ray retired from St. Vincent DePaul’s Catholic Urban Programs. He was an active member of the St. Julius Council 21 of the Catholic Holy Family Society, the St. Vincent DePaul Society, and the Catholic Knights and Ladies of Illinois where he worked many a bingo game. Ray was a “people person”, loved by many.
Mr. Berkel was preceded in death by two sons, Michael Raymond and Daniel Patrick Berkel; his parents, John and Jenny, nee Bequeret, Berkel; three brothers, Melvin, Leroy, and Lester Berkel; and his step-mother, Lorraine Berkel.
Surviving are his wife of 61 years, Phyllis M. Berkel, nee Mueller, of Fairview Heights, IL;
seven children, Sandra (Ralph) Martin of Richmond Hill, GA, Teresa (Michael) Bass of Fairview Heights, Il, Matthew (Kim) Berkel of Trotwood, OH, John (Ruby) Berkel of Staunton, IL, Lisa Berkel (Johnny Walker) of Richmond Hill, GA, Timothy (Suzanne) Berkel of O’Fallon, IL, and Jennifer Cobb of Murfreesboro, NC;
18 grandchildren;
18 great-grandchildren;
a sister, Jeanette (Jerry) Reeves of Bath, MI;
two sisters-in-law, Ruth E. Berkel of O’Fallon, IL, and Virginia Berkel of Belleville, IL;
and many nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society or to Hospice of Southern Illinois. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.rennerfh.com.
Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, February 11, 2018, and from 9 to 11 a.m. Monday, February 12, 2018, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL.
Funeral: Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, February 12, 2018, at George Renner & Sons Funeral Home, Belleville, IL, with Msgr. William McGhee officiating.
Private burial will be at a later date at Holy Cross Cemetery, Fairview Heights, IL.