Berry, Gene 1925-2016

BERRY, BROWNLIE, FOSTER, SHOOK, PAISLEY, BROWN, MARTIN, PAUL, HATFIELD, HAFKEY

Posted By: Marilyn Norris Holmes
Date: 10/12/2016 at 13:39:44

The Smith Funeral Home Obituaries
Grinnell, Iowa

GENE BERRY

Gene Berry, 91, of Malcom, died October 8, 2016, at Montezuma Nursing & Rehabilitation Center.

Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, October 12th at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with Pastor Brian Chitwood of the Madison Church of Christ, near Brooklyn, officiating. Pallbearers will be Kirk and Kole Berry, Tim Brown, Brad and Brian DeLong, Anthony Engelbart, Tony Lang, Randall Paul and Scott Shook. Burial will be in Hazelwood Cemetery in Grinnell.

Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at the Smith Funeral Home, with the family present from 6:00 to 8:000 p.m. Tuesday evening.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Grinnell Regional Hospice.

Gene was born March 27, 1925, in Grinnell, the son of George William and Lettie Brownlie Berry. He was raised in Grinnell and educated in the Grinnell School District. He was a veteran of the United States Army during the Korean War and was stationed in Alaska.

On July 10, 1953, he was united in marriage with Dorothy H. Foster, at the Chester Church in Newburg. A union of nearly 63 years! The couple lived in several communities, including Grinnell, Kellogg, Searsboro and Malcom. They also lived in Soldotna, Alaska early in their marriage. On February 9, 2016, as a couple, they moved to Montezuma Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Gene was employed at several businesses throughout his life, including a Standard gas station, International, John Deere and Grinnell College.

He enjoyed hunting, trapping and fishing, including many trips to Canada. He also enjoyed both flower and vegetable gardening and canning his produce. He collected Native American relics and loved to play cards with his family and friends. For many years, he kept active rotor-tilling gardens and plowing snow. Most importantly, was his love and devotion for his family.

Survivors include six children, Vern (Grace) Shook of Missouri Valley, Lorna (Jim) Paisley of Sturgis, South Dakota, Joyce (Ed) Brown of Malcom, Brenda (Mark) Martin of Grinnell, Glen Berry of Brooklyn and Pam (Jeff) Paul of Grinnell; a daughter-in-law, Barb Shook of Montour; one sister, Marge Hatfield of Exline; a brother-in-law, Charlie Foster of Newton; 15 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dorothy on April 20, 2016; one son, Verl Shook; one grandson, Thomas Brown; one brother, George Berry; and three sisters, Harriett Hafkey and Joyce Ann and Lettie Louise Berry, both in infancy.