Dennis Ray Berry passed away Thursday, December, 2019 at Mary Greely Hospital in Ames, Iowa due to cardiac complications.
Born in Natchez, MS on October 7, 1953 to Velda (Young) and Captain Dennis Berry, who was serving in Korea at that time. When Capt. Berry returned from the Koran conflict, he was presented with a chunky howling baby, Dennis Ray.
Dennis was raised on the Berry farm near Wisner, LA, where he attended both primary and secondary school. He graduated from Wisner High School in 1971. The next two years he attended Louisiana Technical University in Ruston, LA. Not able to decide what his major would be and getting notice from his Franklin Parish Draft Board notifying him that he had the Number 4 draft number, his decision was to enlist in the US Navy, before his number was called in 1973. Serving during his 20 year naval career, he served on several tender ships and two airlift carriers, the Nimity and the John F. Kennedy.
Dennis loved his 20 years in the Navy, except when his ships were in port in Europe or the Caribbean. His one complaint was that while other sailors enjoyed shore leave, he was on duty in the bowels of the ship as a Machinists Mate, but did manage a day or two Spain, Italy, Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
On shore duty in 1986, Dennis decided it was time to settle down and when visiting Sioux Falls, SD he met and married a Graettinger miss, Pamela Robinson. The couple married on April 4, 1986. Dennis and Pam made Graettinger their home after he retired in 1993 from a 20 year Naval career, retiring as Senior Chief. The next year he started his second career at Corn Belt Cooperative Wisdome Power Station, retiring 22 years later in 2016.
In Graettinger he was a member of the United Methodist Church. He was active in the American Legion, having served six years as commander of Post 162. In later years, he was known as the "Bingo King" calling almost every Thursday night for many years. Besides the Legion, Dennis loved to entertain in his "Beer Garden." In the fall and early winter he loved football being a fan of the Packers, Viking and Saints.
One secrets no one knew was that Dennis loved romance movies. He also loved action programs and eating.
Four years ago his health began to fail culminating in a heart attack in January 2019. Dennis pushed himself to move back to his birth place in Natchez, MS, a long time dream. He passed away before he could reach that goal. He loved his acreage here in Iowa but he never could get used to our Northwest Iowa winters.
Dennis is survived by his father, Capt. Dennis Berry (ret), Wisner, LA; his sisters, Carolyn (Wayne) Marten of Shreveport, LA and Amy (Brian) Beusley, Memphis TN. He is survived by nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews along with brother -in-law Ronald Robinson, Sioux Falls, SD and former Graettingerite and wife Pam (Robinson) Berry of Graettinger, Iowa. Preceeding Dennis in passing were his mother, Velda Berry and his brother James Berry.
His funeral will be held mid-January at the South Central Baptist Church in Wisner, Louisiana. A remembrance/memorial will be held in the spring at the American Legion Post 162 in Graettinger.
Born in Natchez, MS on October 7, 1953 to Velda (Young) and Captain Dennis Berry, who was serving in Korea at that time. When Capt. Berry returned from the Koran conflict, he was presented with a chunky howling baby, Dennis Ray.
Dennis was raised on the Berry farm near Wisner, LA, where he attended both primary and secondary school. He graduated from Wisner High School in 1971. The next two years he attended Louisiana Technical University in Ruston, LA. Not able to decide what his major would be and getting notice from his Franklin Parish Draft Board notifying him that he had the Number 4 draft number, his decision was to enlist in the US Navy, before his number was called in 1973. Serving during his 20 year naval career, he served on several tender ships and two airlift carriers, the Nimity and the John F. Kennedy.
Dennis loved his 20 years in the Navy, except when his ships were in port in Europe or the Caribbean. His one complaint was that while other sailors enjoyed shore leave, he was on duty in the bowels of the ship as a Machinists Mate, but did manage a day or two Spain, Italy, Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
On shore duty in 1986, Dennis decided it was time to settle down and when visiting Sioux Falls, SD he met and married a Graettinger miss, Pamela Robinson. The couple married on April 4, 1986. Dennis and Pam made Graettinger their home after he retired in 1993 from a 20 year Naval career, retiring as Senior Chief. The next year he started his second career at Corn Belt Cooperative Wisdome Power Station, retiring 22 years later in 2016.
In Graettinger he was a member of the United Methodist Church. He was active in the American Legion, having served six years as commander of Post 162. In later years, he was known as the "Bingo King" calling almost every Thursday night for many years. Besides the Legion, Dennis loved to entertain in his "Beer Garden." In the fall and early winter he loved football being a fan of the Packers, Viking and Saints.
One secrets no one knew was that Dennis loved romance movies. He also loved action programs and eating.
Four years ago his health began to fail culminating in a heart attack in January 2019. Dennis pushed himself to move back to his birth place in Natchez, MS, a long time dream. He passed away before he could reach that goal. He loved his acreage here in Iowa but he never could get used to our Northwest Iowa winters.
Dennis is survived by his father, Capt. Dennis Berry (ret), Wisner, LA; his sisters, Carolyn (Wayne) Marten of Shreveport, LA and Amy (Brian) Beusley, Memphis TN. He is survived by nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews along with brother -in-law Ronald Robinson, Sioux Falls, SD and former Graettingerite and wife Pam (Robinson) Berry of Graettinger, Iowa. Preceeding Dennis in passing were his mother, Velda Berry and his brother James Berry.
His funeral will be held mid-January at the South Central Baptist Church in Wisner, Louisiana. A remembrance/memorial will be held in the spring at the American Legion Post 162 in Graettinger.
Dennis Ray Berry passed away Thursday, December, 2019 at Mary Greely Hospital in Ames, Iowa due to cardiac complications.
Born in Natchez, MS on October 7, 1953 to Velda (Young) and Captain Dennis Berry, who was serving in Korea at that time. When Capt. Berry returned from the Koran conflict, he was presented with a chunky howling baby, Dennis Ray.
Dennis was raised on the Berry farm near Wisner, LA, where he attended both primary and secondary school. He graduated from Wisner High School in 1971. The next two years he attended Louisiana Technical University in Ruston, LA. Not able to decide what his major would be and getting notice from his Franklin Parish Draft Board notifying him that he had the Number 4 draft number, his decision was to enlist in the US Navy, before his number was called in 1973. Serving during his 20 year naval career, he served on several tender ships and two airlift carriers, the Nimity and the John F. Kennedy.
Dennis loved his 20 years in the Navy, except when his ships were in port in Europe or the Caribbean. His one complaint was that while other sailors enjoyed shore leave, he was on duty in the bowels of the ship as a Machinists Mate, but did manage a day or two Spain, Italy, Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
On shore duty in 1986, Dennis decided it was time to settle down and when visiting Sioux Falls, SD he met and married a Graettinger miss, Pamela Robinson. The couple married on April 4, 1986. Dennis and Pam made Graettinger their home after he retired in 1993 from a 20 year Naval career, retiring as Senior Chief. The next year he started his second career at Corn Belt Cooperative Wisdome Power Station, retiring 22 years later in 2016.
In Graettinger he was a member of the United Methodist Church. He was active in the American Legion, having served six years as commander of Post 162. In later years, he was known as the "Bingo King" calling almost every Thursday night for many years. Besides the Legion, Dennis loved to entertain in his "Beer Garden." In the fall and early winter he loved football being a fan of the Packers, Viking and Saints.
One secrets no one knew was that Dennis loved romance movies. He also loved action programs and eating.
Four years ago his health began to fail culminating in a heart attack in January 2019. Dennis pushed himself to move back to his birth place in Natchez, MS, a long time dream. He passed away before he could reach that goal. He loved his acreage here in Iowa but he never could get used to our Northwest Iowa winters.
Dennis is survived by his father, Capt. Dennis Berry (ret), Wisner, LA; his sisters, Carolyn (Wayne) Marten of Shreveport, LA and Amy (Brian) Beusley, Memphis TN. He is survived by nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews along with brother -in-law Ronald Robinson, Sioux Falls, SD and former Graettingerite and wife Pam (Robinson) Berry of Graettinger, Iowa. Preceeding Dennis in passing were his mother, Velda Berry and his brother James Berry.
His funeral will be held mid-January at the South Central Baptist Church in Wisner, Louisiana. A remembrance/memorial will be held in the spring at the American Legion Post 162 in Graettinger.
Born in Natchez, MS on October 7, 1953 to Velda (Young) and Captain Dennis Berry, who was serving in Korea at that time. When Capt. Berry returned from the Koran conflict, he was presented with a chunky howling baby, Dennis Ray.
Dennis was raised on the Berry farm near Wisner, LA, where he attended both primary and secondary school. He graduated from Wisner High School in 1971. The next two years he attended Louisiana Technical University in Ruston, LA. Not able to decide what his major would be and getting notice from his Franklin Parish Draft Board notifying him that he had the Number 4 draft number, his decision was to enlist in the US Navy, before his number was called in 1973. Serving during his 20 year naval career, he served on several tender ships and two airlift carriers, the Nimity and the John F. Kennedy.
Dennis loved his 20 years in the Navy, except when his ships were in port in Europe or the Caribbean. His one complaint was that while other sailors enjoyed shore leave, he was on duty in the bowels of the ship as a Machinists Mate, but did manage a day or two Spain, Italy, Israel, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
On shore duty in 1986, Dennis decided it was time to settle down and when visiting Sioux Falls, SD he met and married a Graettinger miss, Pamela Robinson. The couple married on April 4, 1986. Dennis and Pam made Graettinger their home after he retired in 1993 from a 20 year Naval career, retiring as Senior Chief. The next year he started his second career at Corn Belt Cooperative Wisdome Power Station, retiring 22 years later in 2016.
In Graettinger he was a member of the United Methodist Church. He was active in the American Legion, having served six years as commander of Post 162. In later years, he was known as the "Bingo King" calling almost every Thursday night for many years. Besides the Legion, Dennis loved to entertain in his "Beer Garden." In the fall and early winter he loved football being a fan of the Packers, Viking and Saints.
One secrets no one knew was that Dennis loved romance movies. He also loved action programs and eating.
Four years ago his health began to fail culminating in a heart attack in January 2019. Dennis pushed himself to move back to his birth place in Natchez, MS, a long time dream. He passed away before he could reach that goal. He loved his acreage here in Iowa but he never could get used to our Northwest Iowa winters.
Dennis is survived by his father, Capt. Dennis Berry (ret), Wisner, LA; his sisters, Carolyn (Wayne) Marten of Shreveport, LA and Amy (Brian) Beusley, Memphis TN. He is survived by nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews along with brother -in-law Ronald Robinson, Sioux Falls, SD and former Graettingerite and wife Pam (Robinson) Berry of Graettinger, Iowa. Preceeding Dennis in passing were his mother, Velda Berry and his brother James Berry.
His funeral will be held mid-January at the South Central Baptist Church in Wisner, Louisiana. A remembrance/memorial will be held in the spring at the American Legion Post 162 in Graettinger.
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