Aaron Berkey, 79, one of the communities progressive farmers before he retired six years ago, died at his country home, one mile west of town, Monday afternoon at 1:330. Mr. Berkey had been ill the past year and bedfast the past three weeks. Death resulted from hardening of the arteries and complications.
He was a native of Penn township, St. Joseph county, the third child and eldest son in a family of eight children of Jacob K. and Maryann (Schrock) Berkey. He was born September 15, 1864. From youth he has followed the occupation of farming and for 42 years he has lived on his present farm just west of town.
His first marriage was to Emma Lechlitner, April 16, 1887. She died March 17, 1911. His second marriage was to Anna Moyer, April 16, 1912. Her death occurred December 24, 1931.
Surviving him are the following children: Mrs. O. C. (Clara) Overholser and Mrs. Earl (Goldia) Bruse of Elkhart, Mary Berkey at home; Mrs. Calvin (Edith) Newcomer of Berkeley, Calif., Mrs. Martin (Mabel) Lehman of Goshen, Mrs. Jess (Beulah) Reed of Nappanee, Mrs. George (Wilma) Newcomer of Salem, Ore., and Mrs. Ray (Florence) Leatherman of this place.
Mrs. Calvin Newcomer and Mrs. G. W. Newcomer will not be able to come to their father's funeral, because of ill health.
He is also survived by 28 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; 2 brothers, Daniel Berkey of St. Joseph county and Henry Berkey of this place, and 2 step-granddaughters. A grandson, Bobby Berkey, has made his home with the grandfather since the death of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Berkey, who were killed in 1933 in a truck accident while returning from the World's Fair in Chicago.
Mr. Berkey was preceded in death by three children, Walter, a son, Henry Roscoe and a daughter, Anna Elnora, who died in infancy.
He has been a member of the Mennonite church since 1912.
Funeral will be held Thursday with a service at the home at 1:30 p.m. and another at 2 o'clock at the Mennonite Brethren in Christ church. Burial in Olive cemetery. The services will be in charge of the Revs. Paul Steiner and A. B. Yoder.

November 4, 1943

Source: www.wakarusa.lib.in.us


Aaron and Emma's children:
Grace Edith Berkey Newcomer (1888 - 1967)
Mabel Lucretia Berkey Lehman (1892 - 1957)
Beulah May Berkey Reed (1893 - 1972)
Henry Roscoe Berkey (1895 - 1895)
Wilma Leona Berkey Newcomer (1896 - 1981)
Florence Myrtle Berkey Letherman (1899 - 1981)
Clara Ethel Berkey Overholser (1900 - 1972)
Mary Edna Berkey Harter (1901 - 1971)
Goldia Celestia Berkey Bruse (1905 - 1979)
Walter Monroe Berkey (1906 - 1933)
Anna Elnora Berkey (1908 - 1909)