Berblinger, Marion Gene

Berblinger, Marion Gene ‘Berb’

husband of Florene ‘Flo’ Maye (Reynolds)

Burial 2014, 08/22      Age 81        Lot 1181 H  Crems

STERLING – Marion Gene “Berb” Berblinger, 81, passed away Aug. 2, 2014, at Sterling Presbyterian Manor. He was born March 7, 1933, in rural Ellinwood to Fredrick and Lena Peter Berblinger.

Berb was a 1951 graduate of Alden High School, where he was a three-sport letter winner. He attended Fort Hays State University before transferring to Sterling College where he played football and graduated in 1955, with a degree in Physical Education.

On April 15, 1955, he married Florene “Flo” Reynolds at Sterling. She survives. The couple have three children, daughters, Pam (Dr. Ron) Stevens of Newton, Sara (Steve) Rivas of Sterling, and son, Mike (Sarah) Berblinger of Buhler. There are nine grandchildren, Tyler (Ericia) Stevens and Lauren Stevens, of Newton, Caroline, Luke and Maren Berblinger of Buhler, Hayley (Jesse) Howard of Carthage, Texas, Lindsey, and Rachel and Klint Carter of Sterling; great-grandson, Landyn Stevens of Newton, and two more on the way; and numerous nieces and nephews.

 Berb was lifetime educator, teaching first at South Hutchinson Grade School and also coaching basketball, softball, and track. In 1963, he moved his family to Sterling where he taught elementary PE until his retirement in 1993. In Sterling, he successfully coached junior high football, basketball, and track and also coached high school girls basketball.

He was an avid outdoorsman, loving to golf, fish, and hunt. He was the best husband, father and “Papa,” and was deeply devoted to the young people of Sterling.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Fredrick “Cotton,” Jack and Donald, and sisters, Lorene Eccleston and Carolyn Harrison.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 8, 2014, at the United Methodist Church, Sterling. Visitation will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014, at Birzer Funeral Home, Sterling, with family present from 5 to 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the USD 376 Marion G. Berblinger Scholarship Fund or Sterling Presbyterian Manor, in care of the funeral home.