Memorial remembrances to Calvary Mennonite church are suggested in the name of John W. Berkey, 92, a resident of the Hubbard area since 1902 and builder at 77 of the former Calvary church edifice in Barlow, now Willamette Valley Baptist church.
Mr. Berkey's death Saturday evening, Dec. 15, in a Woodburn nursing home followed several years' illness.
Funeral services were Tuesday at 2 p.m., in Zion Mennonite church on S. Barnards road, the Rev. Paul N. Roth of Calvary church officiating. Interment was in the Zion Mennonite cemetery. Sam Hostetler Jr. and Grant E. McMahon sang at the services. Pallbearers were grandsons, Keith and Ronald Heyerly, Peter and Jack Berkey, Randy Hostetler and Terry Reznicsek. Cornwell Colonial chapel, Woodburn, had charge of arrangements.
At different times in sawmilling, farming, the automobile business and since the early 1930's in building and carpentry, Mr. Berkey worked until he was past 80. As a young man, he had sawmills at Barlow on Meridian road and on Rock creek, and for a time at Garibaldi. He farmed two years on the present MacLaren School site south of Hubbard and was once a hop broker at Aurora.
In 1916 he became an automobile dealer in Woodburn, where he built a building to house that business. In the 16 years before he sold to Hershberger Motors, he was agent for Overland, Scripps-Booth, Gray, Star, Durant, DeSoto and Cheverolet cars. In 1933 he helped his son, Willis, establish Hubbard Garage and in 1936 assume the Chevrolet agency which a third generation Berkey, Jack, is now acquiring.
John W. Berkey at 51 became a builder and carpenter fulltime. He built many homes in Salem and in the Hubbard area, the last when he was 80 years old. In 1958 he built the Barlow church for Calvary Mennonite congregation.
He was born in Newton, Kansas, Nov. 13, 1881, and came west in 1902, living his last 71 years in Oregon. He and Grace E. Troyer, daughter of Zion Mennonite church's bishop, were married in Zion church in 1905. In August 1944, when Calvary church was organized they were among its charter members.
Surviving Mr. Berkey are his widow, Grace, and eight of their 11 children, Mrs. Lee (Kathryn) Yoder and Mrs. Harley (Ruth) Hostetler of Canby, Mrs. Gladys Heyerly, Willis Berkey and Mrs. Abe (Helen) Reznicsek of Hubbard, Mrs. Vernon (Blanche) Heyerly of Molalla, Kenneth Berkey of Ninety-One and Richard Berkey of Aurora. He outlived three of his sons: Stephen, Derben and John Jr. He also leaves 29 grandchildren and 55 great-grandchildren. He has two sisters, Mrs. Cora Smith and Mrs. Elmer (Anna) Stauffer of Hubbard, and a half-brother Albert Kilmer in New Mexico.

The Canby Herald, [Canby, OR], December 19, 1973, page 2