Berning Jr., James Edward
Our beloved son, brother and friend passed away suddenly in Scotts Bluff, Nebraska, on
October 30, 2021. He had become very ill while working on the pipeline in Wyoming, and died of cancer at Regional West Medical Center after
only two weeks there. He was born in Hartford CT on July 8, 1973 to James E. Berning Sr. and Nancy Staib Berning. He leaves his mother, his two children, Alexander K. Berning and James E. Berning III, His sister Katherine L. Berning-alfred and her husband Jason Alfred, their children Ryan J. and Olivia B. Alfred; his brother Christopher T. Berning and his children Kayla E., Marisa L., and Warren E. He also leaves Aunt Barbara Melville, Uncle Lester Staib, Uncle Thomas Bennett and Cathy Kelemen Bennett, Uncle Ted Bennett, and Uncle Terrence Bennett. He was predeceased by James E.
Berning Sr., Aunt Marianne Bennett Rapson, and Aunt Michaele Bennett Landenberger.
He graduated from Northwestern Regional 7 in 1991, but had no strong desire for higher education, and headed to Boston after graduation. There he worked for Staples, Radio 104.1 WBCN, and Boston Sports Club. He found his true calling after getting his CDL (commercial
drivers license) at New England Tractor Trailer Training School. He loved driving the big rigs, and eventually joined Teamsters Local 677 out of Waterbury CT, pursuing jobs on the pipeline. He made many friends and worked in many states, including Texas, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Wyoming.
He loved his children deeply and the time that he was able to spend with them. He loved riding back roads on his motorcycle, having a beer with friends, and listening to music, especially the music of Blackberry Smoke. He loved his little rescue dog and named her Diesel. Deepest thanks go to Stephanie Mcmaster, his first wife and the mother of his children, for driving them twelve straight hours from El Paso to the hospital in
Nebraska so that they could be with him those last precious days. Our thanks to Dwight Grayson, his boss on the pipeline in Wyoming, for coming to the hospital to console all and help get essential paperwork done. To the staff on Surgical Unit – words cannot express our gratitude for the loving care you gave to Jim and all his family at such a difficult time. Special thanks to his care coordinator Jina for masterminding his care – we love you.
A memorial will be held in March to allow his friends time to plan travel; time and place of service to be decided. Instead of flowers, Jim would appreciate a donation in his memory to Dogstar Rescue in Bloomfield CT. Jim is deeply missed by his family and dear friends – we know he didn’t want a religious service or any fuss, but we will gather and celebrate the time we were able to spend together.