October 23, 1951 – January 1, 2025

Henry Stephen Berger, known to most as Stephen, was born in Lima, Peru, on October 23, 1951, the second child of Henry Casper Berger and Margaret Smith Benton. His father, a pilot for PanAm, was stationed in Peru at the time. The family later settled in Miami, Florida, where Stephen grew up sandwiched between his older sister, Carolyn, and younger sister, Betsy.

Stephen attended the University of Wisconsin, where he studied physics and joined The Navigators, a campus ministry. He was never one to leave an interest half-explored, and this period planted the seeds for a career that would span both science and theology. From Wisconsin, he headed to Dallas Theological Seminary, where he earned his ThM degree and met Brenda Watford, who would become his bride.

The two married in May of 1976 and began their life together serving a small congregation in Missouri. Shortly after, Stephen’s career in engineering took them to Austin, Texas. As an inventor and engineer, he earned four patents and left a memorable mark on Austin’s Siemens plant, where he was the last employee to lock the doors and flip the lights off as the facility closed.

Stephen went on to found TEM Consulting, applying his expertise to a variety of technical projects while fostering his entrepreneurial spirit—a quality he passed on to his children, Josh and Bonnie, who each run their own businesses.

Throughout his life, Stephen’s continued to serve both faith and science. He served as the head of the elder board at First Evangelical Free Church in Austin (later renamed to Austin Oaks Church) and later contributed to other congregations after moving to Georgetown. He enjoyed writing, publishing articles on both engineering and faith, and never shied away from a well-reasoned discussion.

Outside of work and service, Stephen enjoyed scuba diving, gardening, traveling, and spending time with his family. He was a devoted grandfather who didn’t mind sitting on the floor to build Legos or engage with his grandchildren in their imaginative worlds.

After being diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), Stephen faced the challenge as he had faced so many others: head-on, with a mix of logic and resolve. A double lung transplant granted him almost five more years of life, during which he contributed to the IPF Foundation, applying his expertise and perspective to help others.

Stephen was preceded in death by his parents, Henry Casper Berger and Margaret Smith Benton, and his sister, Carolyn. He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Brenda; his sister, Betsy; his children, Joshua Stephen Berger (Claire) and Bonnie Bakhtiari (Armon); and his three grandchildren, Calvin, Piper, and Edmund Berger.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Wednesday, March 26th at 10:30 a.m. at Crestview Baptist Church. Flowers may be sent directly to Crestview Baptist Church at 2300 Williams Drive Georgetown, TX 78628 before the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. 

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