Berkenpas, Douglas E. 1958-2004

BERKENPAS, SCHLICHTE, GROEPPER

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/14/2007 at 11:14:57

LE MARS, Iowa -- Douglas E. Berkenpas, 46, of Le Mars passed away Monday, Dec. 20, 2004, of injuries suffered in a traffic accident north of Seney, Iowa.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. James Catholic Church in Le Mars, with the Rev. James Tigges officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be after 3 p.m. today, with a parish rosary 4 p.m. Scriptural wake service at 7 p.m., at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars.

Douglas Edward Berkenpas was born Nov. 14, 1958, in Le Mars, to Darrell and Lorraine (Schlichte) Berkenpas. He was baptized into the Catholic faith at St. James Catholic Church. He received his education through the Le Mars school system and graduated from Le Mars Community High School in 1977. He was united in marriage to Patty Groepper on Aug. 6, 1981, at St. James Catholic Church in Le Mars.

He began his 30-year career with Wells' Dairy when he was 16 years old, working at the milk plant. For the past 24 years, he was a truck driver, hauling milk from producers to the dairy in Le Mars. He enjoyed visiting with the individual producers, to many he was more than just their truck driver, he was their friend. He was a very conscientious driver, having received safe driving awards for each of the 24 years he drove for Wells'.

The couple were very family centered. They enjoyed camping and boating at Lewis and Clark Lake in Yankton, S.D. On those many outings, he mastered his "wash-tub" cooking skills. In the winter months, the couple and their children, Craig and Mike, enjoyed many snowmobiling trips to the Black Hills. Around the holidays, he often played Santa for many families in Le Mars.

During the years, he could been seen driving his boys from one lawn mowing job to another. He and the boys also operated a wood splitting business as a family venture with his father and brother, Tom. His work ethic was passed down to his children, the pride of his life.

He was a member of St. James Catholic Church and often served as an usher for Saturday evening Mass. He also was a member of the Eagle's Club, a dart league and the Powder Players Snowmobile Club.

Survivors include his wife, Patty of Le Mars; two children, Craig and Michael of Le Mars; his parents, Darrell and Lorraine Berkenpas of Le Mars; two sisters and their husbands, Jody and Steve Ohm of Le Mars and Linda and John Nilles of Le Mars; two brothers and their wives, Dave and Kris Berkenpas of Le Mars and Tom and Michele Berkenpas of Le Mars; Patty's parents, Loren and Verna Groepper of Kingsley, Iowa; four brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Donna and Dennis Hoss of Yankton, S.D., Dianne and Shelton Mack of Mitchell, S.D., Gary and Shyla Groepper of Kingsley, Iowa, and Dave and Darcy Groepper of Kingsley; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Pallbearers will be Tom, Dave and Jeff Berkenpas, Del Kellen, Arlan Britt, Jim Ahrendsen, Dennis Hoss and Shelton Mack.

[Part of the Darrell Easton Obituary Collection; source:Sioux City Journal]