Thanksgiving time was a special event for June, second only to Christmas. Much time was spent in preparation. June always arose early in the morning on Thanksgiving Day to start the turkey cooking.. This would be a big day in which the entire family would fill the home and share in the Thanksgiving Day festivities and dinner. In addition to the traditional Thanksgiving Day fare, candied sweet potatoes were a favorite part of the meal. June even sent out special Thanksgiving Day cards to the family. June's Thanksgiving Day cards were much on the order of her later to be sent Christmas cards. June was so busy during most of the day preparing the meal and later attending to everyone's needs that she barely had the time to eat her own meal.

 Beginning in the year 2003, I decided to  make a record and list the reasons why June and I were thankful at each Thanksgiving time.

The seed for this annual listing originated in Circa 1995. This was  in the years before Alzheimer's came into our lives. It was at a time while June and I were still hosting Thanksgiving at 6025 Gardena Lane for the entire family. June surprised me and the family on that particular Thanksgiving - June requested at the beginning of the meal, that each member of the family in turn, around the table, verbalize why he or she was thankful on that day. I remember my answer was a fumbling one and less than a good response as to why I was thankful. But, in spite of this awkward moment, I thought it was a good thing to do. Later in thinking about it, I resolved to do better in the future. Eventually June's idea of describing and listing the things we were thankful for at Thanksgiving time evolved into the present day recorded listing.

June was always a lady with a thankful heart. June was one who always gave thanks every day during the prayers before the meal.  In January of 1998, June was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Even as June traveled into the darkness of Alzheimer's, her first thoughts and words were to always "Thank God", amid tears for all he had done for her and for us. In Later years as Alzheimer's gradually confused, her thoughts, I would complete the prayer for her.

                                                                       What I am Thankful For

God blessed June, and I and this entire family with an American birth and citizenship. An Englishman over a century ago is said to have reminded another Englishman that he was English and therefore he had won first prize in the lottery of life. Today however, this saying would be more accurate if modified to say – “Remember you are an American, you have won first prize in the lottery of life.” I can Imagine what our life would be like if we lived under the conditions faced by many of the less fortunate families of the world.

God blessed me with a loving Christian mother who provided me with a pleasant childhood, pleasant memories and a loving home.  While we were very poor, I never had the feeling of being poor.

God blessed me with a beautiful loving wife  June - June, a caring lady with a strong moral background,  gave me over 50 years of unconditional love and companionship. June provided me with a family of children and grandchildren of whom we are both proud. June, a wife, a mother and a grandmother, also served as a model for the family on how life should be lived and how people should be treated. June became and still is the love and light of my life. June was truly my life's greatest blessing.

        Note: June and I were both products of the great depression years. We both grew up in poor farm families. We found a great life together far beyond what each of us could have imagined as children looking into the future. Our life together was and has been an adventure. In Looking back at my life, I have only the regret that June became a victim of the terrible Alzheimer’s disease. I can truly say that if I had a chance to live my life over, I would choose nothing different, if it meant a life without June, with or without Alzheimer's.

God blessed me with a rewarding occupation. - an occupation that resulted in not only a comfortable living for the family but also provided the means for June and my final years.

God blessed me with a rewarding second occupation in the forensic sciences. This occupation provided the means for traveling though out the United States and  Europe. In the years before Alzheimer's took over June's life, it permitted June and I to visit most European countries and to travel to our favorite city of London many times. By the year 2005 however, June had moved deeply into the shadows of Alzheimer's. The year 2005 changed our world forever!

          Addendum - 2005: - If June must have this terrible Alzheimer's disease, then I am thankful for the following times and moments together:

 - for every occasion that June rests her head on my shoulder as she briefly dozes off.

 - for every occasion that June places one hand on of mine as I hold her other hand.

 - for every occasion that June still calls me by name.

 - for every occasion that June still says “I love you Stan!”

          Addendum - 2006::-  (All of the thankful moments from  Addendum 2005, have been lost in the year 2006.)

As June's journey carries her more deeply into the confusing darkness of Alzheimer’s, I am thankful that June appears to be physically comfortable most of the time. I am also thankful that June appears peaceful most of the time and that her periods of mental anguish and fear appear to be few.

I am thankful that although June no longer remembers God, I am assured that God still  remembers June.

I am also thankful that God still grants me sufficient strength, health and mentality, that I may continue to be a caregiver to June.

June does not know me or respond to me. I am thankful for the opportunity of being with June, holding her hand, assuring her of my love and having the opportunity to surround June with a zone of comfort and peace.

          Addendum - 2008. - June passed away from the complications of Alzheimer's in the early morning hours of Thursday 23, October 2008.

I am thankful that God has taken June home and that she is now free from any further pain either mental or physical.

I am thankful for having had the very high privilege of being entrusted as a caregiver and an advocate for June during the almost 11 years of  her long and weary struggle with Alzheimer's.

This has been my life's highest calling.

          I and the family miss June so very much. I am thankful for the many cherished memories of our over 56 years of married life together. June was a truly remarkable lady. June gave me much more than I could ever  have dreamed or imagined. June and I had over 50 wonderful years together before Alzheimer's finally took over our life. Thank you Lord for the thousands of blessings that you showered on June and I during our lifetime together. I am forever indebted.

           Addendum - 2009  I am 81 years of age and thankful for every day that God permits me to be an advocate for June's memory and honor, and to promote Alzheimer's Awareness, Alzheimer's Funding, Alzheimer's Research and for Alzheimer's proper care practices.

                           In behalf of June, our Children, our Grandchildren and the entire Berg Family: -

                                                                                     Thank you Lord.

                                                                   Stan Berg

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                          (Published in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune on Thanksgiving Day, November 2009.)

Note: On October 23^rd, 2008 June passed away after almost eleven years of an exhausting battle with Alzheimer’s. June's last three years and 8 plus months were in an Alzheimer’s facility. Her last years were at the Alzheimer’s “Villa” of the Benedictine Health Care Center of Innsbruck, New Brighton, MN. See the funeral notice as published in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. It is located on the top blue navigation strip under the label: “In Memoriam”. Click on: “June K. (Rolstad) Berg – In Memoriam”.