Richard Dean BERENS

BERENS, KIRSCHBAUM, MURPHY, MALLEN, SEBERT

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:43

July 21, 1939 ---- June 20, 2019

Richard ‘Dick’ Dean Berens, 79, of Clarion passed away Thursday, June 20, 2019 at his home, following a brief illness. A Memorial Mass will be held on Monday, June 24, 2019 at 1:30 PM at St. John’s Catholic Church, 608 2nd Avenue Northeast in Clarion, with Father Jerry Blake officiating. Burial will be held at St. John’s Catholic Cemetery in Clarion. A scriptural wake and rosary will be held at 3:30 PM on Sunday, June 23, 2019, with visitation to follow until 6:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion.

Richard Dean, son of William and Ione (Kirschbaum) Berens was born on July 21, 1939 in Atlantic, Iowa. He lived in Halbur and later Clarion, where he graduated with the class of 1957. He attended Iowa State University, completing their dairy program.

On June 4, 1960, Dick was united in marriage to Shirley Murphy. They made their home in Clarion and were blessed with two daughters, Chris and Leann. While in high school, Dick worked at the Clarion Dairy, where he continued to work after it became Anderson Erickson Dairy. After being a routeman and supervisor, Dick and Shirley moved to Pleasant Hill while Dick worked in Des Moines in the office at the Anderson Erickson Dairy for the next 15 years.

Upon retirement, Dick and Shirley relocated to Mountain View, Arkansas. Dick was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Mountain View. While there, he enjoyed nothing more than spending time with his friends and family on his boat. He loved challenging them to a cliff jump.

Dick and Shirley moved back to Clarion in 2014. Dick enjoyed his daily round of golf with his foursome of dear classmates. He was on the board at the Heartland Museum and enjoyed giving numerous tours for several years. He was a member of St John’s Catholic Church where he served on various boards over the years. He enjoyed watching nearly every sport on television, especially golf and anything involving his Iowa State Cyclones.

Dick never met a stranger. He was a kind man who loved to visit with everyone. He will be missed by anyone lucky enough to have met him.

Dick is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Shirley, two daughters Chris (Dan) Mallen of Urbandale, Leann (Rod) Sebert of Belmond; six grandchildren; five great-grandsons; brother Larry (Fran) Berens of Manchester; one niece and one nephew and their children.

https://www.ewingfh.com/obituaries/richard-dick-berens/