ROBERT SARAFINO BERRA

Robert Sarafino Berra, 79, of Jefferson City, died Sunday, March 2, 2008, at his residence. He was born on Feb. 13, 1929, in St. Louis, the son of Robert Rosmundo and Mary Louise Fassi Berra. He was united in marriage on April 19, 1952, in St. Louis to Patricia Anne Koen who still survives at the home. Robert was a United States Marine Corps combat veteran of the Korean Conflict. Mr. Berra was a thirty-four year veteran of the St. Louis Fire Department and the Crestwood Fire Department where he was a Fire Marshal, Fire Inspector, and Assistant Fire Chief. He retired from the Crestwood Fire Dept. in 1991. He was a member of St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, Wardsville, and St. Ambrose Catholic Church, St. Louis. He also was a member of the Missouri Association of Building Officials and Inspectors since 1964, where he served as President from 1986-1987, and a member of the Central Missouri Detachment of the Marine Corps League. Other survivors include: one daughter and son-in-law, Anita and Jerry Blankenship, Jefferson City; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Robert Gregg Berra, Jefferson City; Kevin and Sharon Berra, St. Louis; and Christopher and Karen Berra, Mobile Ala.; fifteen grandchildren; five great grandchildren; one sister, Delores Berra, St. Louis; and one brother, Donald Berra, Castle Rock, Colo. He was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson, Charles Berra; and one sister, Patricia Wesp. Mass of Christian Burial will be 9:30 a.m. Wednesday March 5, 2008 at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in St. Louis. Burial with military honors will be in Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 4th, at Calcaterra Funeral Home in St. Louis. Memorials are suggested to the Central Missouri Kidney Assoc., 3300 Lemone Blvd., Columbia, MO 65201 or to The BackStoppers, Inc., P.O. Box 66927, St. Louis, MO 63166. Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home, Jefferson City, is in charge of local arrangements. Those wishing to email tributes or condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.