"I grew up in the Armah community and knew the Berry family. I remember when Dean and Margaret were married. Our sympathies are with you all. Bill and Margaret Bender"
In loving memory of
Stephen Dean Berry
February 10, 1947 - April 27, 2020
Parnell-Stephen Dean Berry was born on February 10, 1947 in Sigourney IA. He is the son of Dean Clement Berry and Margaret Clare Murphy Berry who resided in Armah Township. Steve passed on Monday, April 27, 2020 surrounded by the love of his brothers and sisters who will miss him dearly and forever cherish his memory.
Steve grew up in Parnell, graduated from Williamsburg High School in 1965 where he played basketball and was an Iowa State Meet finalist in track. He graduated from Loras College in Dubuque IA in 1969. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Parnell until it closed and then attended Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church in North English and St. Mary's Catholic Church in Williamsburg.
A history major in college, Steve's life was defined by his love for reading and gathering information. He was an avid reader of books, newspapers, and periodicals. He was not only well read, but whip smart, witty, and a great conversationalist. He was always up to date on politics, economics, and sports of every type and at every level. He was a true-blue Hawkeye and Minnesota Twins fan, but on any given day you might find Steve rooting for Iowa State, Northern Iowa, Drake, the New England Patriots, the Packers, the Chiefs, the Bears, the Brewers, the Cubs, the Royals, the Cardinals and many other teams because, for Steve, there was no such thing as too much sports!
Steve also had a magic touch in the garden. He loved to garden and plant flowers. He was the crew chief on the Berry family tomato farm and was patient and kind when teaching his younger brothers and sister the proper way to tend a field.
Steve is survived by his siblings, Mary (George) Lower Chesterfield MO, Joanne (David) Tigges, North Liberty IA, Bernard Berry, Stilwell KS, Dr. William (Darlene) Berry, Marshfield WI, Kathleen (Larry) Zimpleman, Cumming IA, Dean (Diane) Berry, Williamsburg VA.
He leaves nieces and nephews who loved their Uncle Steve and the memories of riding with him in what they dubbed the "Magic Car" over the country roads around Parnell, drinking Pepsi....from the bottle; Lauri (Scott) Jenkins, Maggie (Shannon) Lower, Tim (Lauren) Lower, Anne (Sean) Weldon, Jennifer (Ryan) Johnson, Nicole (Jamie) Kinjerski, Erica (David) Loomis, Maria Berry, Dave Berry, Kaitlin Berry, Hannah (Dan) Holena, Betsy Berry/Mike Hendrickson, Danielle (Thomas) Vevea-Schweitzer, Rebecca (Daniel) Vevea-Pfeiffer, Christopher Zimpleman, Thomas (Anne King) Zimpleman, Melanie Berry, and Aleck Berry. Steve had great nieces and nephews who will come to know him by the stories we will continue to tell them; Jackson, Courtney, and Katie Jenkins, Jasper and Rowan Lower-Holmes, William and Chloe Lower, Luke, Flaherty, and Finn Weldon, Ezekiel Johnson, Cadence and Alexander Kinjerski, Kennedy, Reagan, and Carter Loomis, Gus and Henry Holena, Otto Berry, Jack and Lola Schweitzer, Max Pfeiffer, Nathaniel and Greta Zimpleman.
Steve was preceded in death by his parents and a nephew, Jeff Zimpleman.
The family wants to thank the doctors and nurses in the ICU and Palliative Care Units at the University Hospital in Iowa City for taking care of Steve. In these difficult times, the staff made an extra effort to keep the family updated on Steve's care and to provide an opportunity for each one of us to talk to Steve before he left us. Steve was an organ donor.
A Celebration of Steve's life will be 11:00 am on Saturday, September 25, 2021 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in North English. Burial will be at Armah Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Armah Cemetery Association, c/o White Star Bank, 209 Main Street PO Box 68, South English IA 52335, the Parnell Little League, or a charity of your choice. Powell Funeral Home in Williamsburg is caring for arrangements. Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com
Tributes
"So sorry for your loss. Steve was such a nice guy. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless!!"
"Our deepest sympathies and condolences to Joanne and family . Please know we have you and your family in our prayers on your loss of your brother . Matt Gavin Iowa City ,Iowa "
"I worked with Steve a long time ago and got to know him and visited him in Parnell...such a sweet man my condolences to the family...R.I.P Steve"
"I send my sympathy to all of Steve's brothers and sisters. I have many fond memories from high school particularly but also during his college years at Loras. We ran track together in high school and that's when I got to know him best. He was always faster than me and had a tremendous kick at the end of each race. I admired his stamina and his support of me on the 2 mile relay team. We shared many fun times together those years and I cherish the friendship we built. Steve had a really kind heart, was always soft spoken and was quick to smile and laugh. We had a good visit when we both attended our 50th class reunion 5 years ago. I pray for his departed soul and for peace and God's grace to all his siblings in these really difficult times. I am truly sorry for your loss. Ron Wetjen"
"So sorry to hear of your brother's death. It is hard when you can't be with your loved one. Larry & Deanna Robinson "
"My deepest sympathies to the family, Steve was one of the best friends anybody could have. I knew Steve from grade school, through high school and college, and even shared apartments with him in Cedar Rapids post college. We had some great times. Greg Long "