Published in TheUnion.com - Thursday, January 21, 2010.

Jackie “Jack” Eugene Berry, a 49-year Grass Valley resident, died Jan. 9 at home with his family. He was 85..

A celebration of life will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 30, at Perko's Restaurant, 1000 Plaza Drive, Grass Valley.

Mr. Berry was born Dec. 17, 1924, in Callaway, Neb., to Angus [Agnes] Zessin Berry and Carl Berry..

He graduated from high school in Callaway in 1942. In 1960, he married Marguerite Hasselbring..

He worked for the state Department of Fish and Game in Nebraska before moving to Sacramento, where he worked as a truck driver. In 1961, he moved to Grass Valley and worked at various jobs..

Mr. Berry had many hobbies including working on old cars, fixing anything mechanical and reading Louis Lamour novels. He loved going to Perko's for breakfast and visiting all the waitresses there, whom he adored; he also enjoyed hanging out with his good buddies Mike, Pat, Big John and many more..

He had a generous and giving heart and would help anyone in time of need. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him..

Mr. Berry is survived by his step-daughters Janene Clark and Charisse (Steve) Nunnink of Grass Valley, Bobbie Hasselbring of Beaver Creek, Ore., and Betty (Jesse) Winters of Madras, Ore.; grandchildren, Robert Clark of Santa Monica, Rhonda Clark Becker of Penn Valley, Richard Clark of Grass Valley, Ron Nunnink of Grass Valley, Don Nunnink of Nevada City, LeAnn Hoffart of Rocklin, Andrea Pappas of Nevada City, and Lori Deniz of Grass Valley; nephews, Steve and Brad Berry of Omaha, Neb., and niece Kristie Berry Mayne of Omaha Neb.; 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; and brother, Duane (Lea) Berry of Omaha..

Mr. Berry was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Agnus [Agnes] Berry, ex-wife, Marguerite Berry; son-in-law, Alvin “Butch” Clark; and sister, Wanda Cole..

Arrangements were by Chapel of the Angels Mortuary and Crematory, Grass Valley..

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