Dr. John Berg ends 26-year tenure as county coroner

After 26 years, Dr. John Berg of New Prague has stepped down as Le Sueur County Coroner.

Dr. Berg, who has practiced at Parkview Clinic in New Prague since 1972, says he was approached by the county board 26 years ago to take the job. He agreed, on the condition that the county pay for his classes in forensic science.

Since that time, he’s been on call to respond to deaths in the county that are deemed “unnatural,” accidental, the results of homicide or suicide, or of an undetermined cause. Also, he investigates natural deaths, if unexpected or sudden, especially in younger people.

In his years as coroner, he said he investigated “very few murders, too many suicides, and an increasing number of drug-related deaths, especially in the past few years.”

On the bright side, he said there have been fewer fatal crashes, but noted, “We’ve had a bit of an increase in the last year-and-a-half.

“There are some deaths that are automatically investigated, such as water deaths, airplane deaths, railroad or on-the-job deaths. When those happens, there are a number federal and state reports to fill out,” he said.

He also was required to investigate all SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) deaths for those under the age of two.

Each of the 87 counties in Minnesota is required to have a coroner, and now Le Sueur, like a number of other counties, will be contracting with the Ramsey County coroner’s office to take over Berg’s duties.

“In this part of the state, it’s mostly Ramsey or Hennepin County or Unity Hospital in Anoka County that are contracting their services,” he said.

While Berg said he could be called at all hours of the day or night, he didn’t respond to every call. There are deputy coroners, other doctors who could respond. For many years, he worked with Dr. Jo E. Anderson of Le Sueur. More recently his sons, Dr. Mark and Dr. Dan Berg, have been his deputies.

He also had services...

To see the full story pick up the January 7, 2016 print edition of The New Prague Times, Montgomery Messenger, Lake Region LIFE or The Elysian Enterprise.

Suel Printing Company

Copyright © Suel Printing Company
All Rights Reserved
200 Main St E
New Prague, MN 56071

Phone: 952-758-4435
Fax: 952-758-4135

Latest articles

Thu, 03/28/2024 - 11:40am
Thu, 03/28/2024 - 11:33am
Thu, 03/28/2024 - 10:00am
Tue, 03/26/2024 - 4:12pm

If you would like to receive a FREE digital edition with a paid print subscription please call 952-758-4435.