Tyson Berger

CROSSLAKE -- Tyson G. Berger, 26, Crosslake, formerly of Waconia, died Saturday, Sept. 15, 2001, while racing at Colonel's Brainerd International Raceway.

He was born Feb. 17, 1975, in Edina to Robert C. and Gail L. (Gaertner) Berger. He graduated from Waconia High School and earned a machinist's license in 1993 from Hennepin County Technical College. He moved to Crosslake in 1998. He opened Bergs Motorsports and then teamed with Schmalenberg Racing in high performance engine repair. He began racing sports vehicles at age 3. In 1999, he was state champion in motocross. In 2000, he finished eighth in the five-state area in the Central Racing Association after one year of street bike competition.

Survivors include his son, Ghage, Crosslake; fiancee, Heather Buntje, Crosslake; his mother, the Rev. Gail Stangret Berger, Waconia; two brothers, Kyle Berger, Waconia, and Ryan Berger, Eden Prairie; and four stepbrothers, Brian Stangret, Mark Stangret, Joel Stangret, and Scott Stangret, all of Waconia.

His father; his stepfather, Jerome "Jerry" Stangret; and his grandparents, the Rev. Henry and Marian Gaertner and George and Julia Berger, died earlier.

Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Faith Lutheran Church in Waconia with Revs. Dan Warnes, David Mohn, Julie Ebbesen and Bill Bonner officiating. Burial will be in Faith Rutz Lake Cemetery in Waconia Township.

Arrangements are with Johnson Funeral Home in Waconia.