Berndt, James M. (1950 – 2014)

BERNDT, COOPER, BRYAN, MARLAY, BUCK

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 2/27/2014 at 18:47:09

Name of deceased: James "Morris" Berndt

Aged: 63 yrs, 7 mo, 29 days

Residence: Elm Crest Retirement Center in Harlan, IA

Born: June 11, 1950, Trenton, MO

Died: Feb. 9, 2014, Elm Crest Retirement Center, Harlan, IA

Funeral services: Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014, Pauley Jones Funeral Home, Avoca, IA; Rev. Thomas Dooley officiated. Burial was at Graceland Cemetery in Avoca, IA.

Survived by: wife of 39 years, Laura Berndt of Avoca, IA; children, Bryan Berndt of Avoca, IA, Aaron (spouse, Lauren) Berndt of Highland Park, IL, Andrea Berndt of Phoenix, AZ, Stephen (spouse, Michelle) Berndt of Mansfield, TX, and Patricia Berndt of West Des Moines, IA; mother, Lucille (nee Bryan) Marlay of Trenton, MO; grandchildren, Grayce Berndt, Tristan Berndt, Brooklyn Buck, and Cooper Berndt; other family members and friends

Predeceased by: Father, David Berndt; infant daughter, Teresa

Education: graduated from Ravanna High School in Ravanna, MO, Class of 1968; he earned his Masters Degree in English from Northwest Missouri State University.

Religious affiliation: no information provided

Military service: no information provided

Marriage: Laura Cooper; Aug. 17, 1974; Shenandoah, IA

Employment: 1 year teaching in MO. before the family relocated to Avoca, IA, where he taught English and German at the Junior High and High School levels. Health issues forced him to retire in 2007. He was a long-time member of the National Education Association.

Hobbies/Interests: big fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and the St. Louis Cardinals; enjoyed TV game show “Jeopardy;” collected comic books; enjoyed estate auctions; golf; reading science fiction; was witty with a dry sense of humor.

Sources: ancestry.com, harlanonline.com, pauleyjones.com