Former U Of M Marching Band Member Dies At 26

TWIN CITIES, MN — Earlier this year, the University of Minnesota Marching Band announced the early passing of a member of its band family. Jillian Patricia Berge, 26, of Hopkins, played trumpet in the band from 2009-2013. She was born in Fridley in 1991. She died Friday, April 28 from complications of Lupus.

The band said she will be remembered as kind and full of laughter. According to her obituary:

She is survived by the love of her life, Robert Wilcoxon of Hopkins, MN; parents, Michael and Suzanne Berge of Lakeville, MN; brother Matthew Berge (Kelsey True) of Omaha, NE; sister Jessica Berge (Anthony Jelen) of Lakeville, MN; grandparents, Coleman and Joyce (Olson) Berge of St. Louis Park, MN, Raymond Guski of Hammond, WI; aunts and uncles, Carolee and Mark Cohen, Joni Berge, Randy Guski (Tracy Hagen), Tim and Angi Guski, Shari and Jeff Turvaville; and 15 cousins.

Image via Mat_the_W, Flickr, used under Creative Commons