Alma Grbavac

Dec. 18, 1922 - Aug. 15, 2014

Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday at Franklin & Downs Funeral Chapel, 1050 McHenry Ave., Modesto, for Alma Grbavac, 91, of Ceres. She went to be with the Lord on August 15, 2014.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday at Ceres Memorial Park, 1801 E Whitmore Ave., Ceres.
Alma was born Dec. 18, 1922, in Elgin, North Dakota, to the late William and Selma Beoshanz Jr. She and her late husband Cecil Berg built a house in Ceres in 1964. She lived there until her death. She obtained her high school diploma and one college credit at Modesto Junior College about 1965.

Alma was employed at a cannery in Modesto for approximately 32 years and then retired. She and one of her friends were the first women to transfer to the warehouse. Prior to the transfer only men worked at the warehouse and they didn't want the women there. In fact there was no woman's restroom at the facility. She prevailed.

Alma enjoyed watching football games when grandson Mike played at Ceres High School and Modesto Junior College. She also enjoyed going to garage sales, thrift stores, playing games on her computer, slot machines, Costco hot dogs and Pepsi. She had collections of turtles, spoons, pens, perfume bottles, and nut crackers. She collected string and tied the ends together until she had a ball about three feet tall. She grew chyotes every year and was the chyote lady in Ceres.

Alma attended Big Valley Grace Community Church from about 2006 to 2012, until it became difficult for her to go places.

Alma is survived by her loving children, Jean L Choate and Keith L Berg; her stepson, Frank Grbavac, and her foster son Leonard Berg. She also leaves behind her grandchildren, Michael Choate, Robert Berg, Burt Berg, Nichole Massey, Bryan Berg and Jake Grbavac; her great-grandchildren, Jared Berg, Justin Berg, Searra Berg, Susan Nichols, Loren Berg, Carynn Moll and Bryanna Moll; and two great-grandchildren, Maya and Dante. In addition she is survived by her sister Anne Falos; and her brother Ervin Beoshanz.

Alma was preceded in death by her first husband, Cecil Berg (1966), second husband John Grbavac (1985), and grandson Charley Choate Jr. (1996).

-Ceres (Calif.) Courier
Wednesday, August 20, 2014