BERRY, Robert F. "Gunner"
BERRY, SWEENEY, DONAHUE, BOHLEN, EMROO, HEINOLD, BAILEY, CALLAHAN, ANDERSON, WATSON
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 12/21/2017 at 01:40:40
Obituary ~ Robert F. "Gunner" Berry
April 11, 1927 ~ February 23, 2015The Globe Gazette
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa
February 27, 2015MASON CITY -- Robert F. "Gunner" Berry, 87, of Mason City died Monday, Feb. 23, 2015, at home surrounded by his family.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in Robert’s honor at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 27, 2015, at Epiphany Parish – Holy Family Catholic Church. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. with a scriptural wake at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015, at the Epiphany Parish – Holy Family Catholic Church.
Robert F. Berry was born on April 11, 1927, in Mason City, Iowa, to Frank P. Berry and Eunice D. (Sweeney) Berry.
Robert attended Holy Family School and graduated with the class of 1946. In 1945 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy for the duration of World War II. He served on the USS Hornet as a Gunner's Mate Third Class. After discharge, he attended Mason City Junior College.
Robert was united in marriage to Shirley M. Donahue on Sept. 25, 1954, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Laurens, Iowa. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in 2014.
Robert was employed as a cement mason for various union contractors in Iowa and Minnesota. Robert received his 50-year pin for being in the cement union at a ceremony in Minneapolis in December 2006.
Robert was an avid hunter and fisherman earning the nickname Gunner which he was known by. Robert also enjoyed playing cards and trips to the casino.
He was a 4th generation Irish Catholic in Mason City and he was extremely proud of his Irish heritage. He loved spending time with his family. Robert and Shirley enjoyed spending their winters together in Port Aransas, Texas. Robert was a life member of the VFW and a member of the American Legion, Epiphany Catholic Church, and Cement Union Local 633.
Survivors include his wife, Shirley, two daughters, Anne Bohlen (Gary), Mason City, Sandra Emroo (Drahcir), Placerville, California, two sons, Matt Berry (Jean Casey), Clear Lake, and Kevin Berry (Maria), Mason City, nine grandchildren, Shannon and Cody Heinold, Robert and Katie Berry, Tyreece and Terrell Bailey, Shane and Taylor Callahan, Angelle Emroo, two step-grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, seven step-great-grandchildren, one nephew, Larry (Betty) Anderson, of Michigan, and special friends including, Robert and Joan Watson of Mason City.
Robert was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters, Dorothy Berry and Marjorie Anderson, one great-grandchild, and one nephew.
Memorials may be given to Epiphany Catholic Church, VFW, Newman Catholic Schools, or Hospice of North Iowa.
[Interment at Elwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa.}
Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E., Mason City, IA; 641-423-2372. ColonialChapels.com
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, December of 2017
Cerro Gordo Obituaries maintained by Lynn Diemer-Mathews.
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