Berry, Timothy E. 1925-2012

BERRY, GIBSON, ANDERSON, HANSEN, DREHER, HOLMERTZ, TIERNEY

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 3/24/2021 at 10:43:20

Timothy E. Berry
July 9, 1925 - February 5, 2012
Born in Des Moines, Iowa
Resided in Johnston, IA

Timothy E. Berry, 86, passed away Sunday, February 5th, 2012. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday, February 8 at Valley Church, 4343 Fuller Road in West Des Moines. Burial will follow at Sunny Hill Cemetery in Grimes.

Tim, or more affectionately known to his family as Papa, was born July 9, 1925 in Des Moines, the son of Benjamin and Lena (Gibson) Berry. He went to Lincoln High School into the 11th grade when he had to quit to help on the farm when his dad became ill with cancer. He was deferred from the service for the next two years until his dad passed away. Then he became a Navy steam fitter on the USS Kula Gulf during WWII and was at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese surrendered - he said it was the biggest party he had ever seen! Later he completed his high school education and with his practical mind and hard working ethics, retired his working career as an engineer at Western Tool in Des Moines.

Tim married Verna Mae Anderson on February 6, 1948, and they set an example of marriage and family for 60 years until her sudden death in 2008.

Tim was an artist with an engineer's mind, and designed many woodworking projects.

Tim was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Verna, and his son, Michael Berry. He is survived by his sister, Marge Hansen; daughter in law, Janet (Kim) Dreher; grandchildren, Emily (PJ) Holmertz, Ashley (Chad) Tierney, and Tyler Dreher; great-grandchildren, Sarah and Aiden Holmertz, Abigail and Caeley Tierney; and other nieces and nephews.

Visitation with the family present will be from 5 to 7 pm, Tuesday, February 7, 2012 at Iles Funeral Homes – Westover Chapel.

Memorial contributions in memory of Tim may be made to Africa Inland Missions in support of his granddaughters' ministries in Kenya. ~ The Des Moines (IA) Register 07 Feb 2012.