Obituary of Howard P. Berry

Howard P. Berry, age 83, lifetime Iowa City area farmer died Monday, June 27, 2005, at the Lone Tree Care Center. Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m., Wednesday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service with the Reverend John McKinstry officiating. Private family graveside services will be held on Thursday at Memory Gardens Cemetery. Visitation and a Celebration of Howard’s Life reception will be from 3 to 7pm Wednesday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in his memory to Amenity Hospice of Cedar Rapids, Johnson County Fairboard, or the Hills Volunteer Fire Department. Online condolences may be sent for Howard’s family through our website @www.gayandciha.com. Howard Paul Berry was born January 8, 1922, in Iowa City the son of Charles and Jeanette (Lake) Berry. He graduated from University High School in 1939. On February 17, 1945, he married Mary J. Pederson at the First Christian Church in Iowa City. Together Howard and Mary farmed south of Iowa City for many years before retiring in 1998. He was a member of the First Christian Church in Iowa City. Howard was active in numerous local and state organizations and groups throughout his many years in agriculture, including the Johnson County Fair Board, Johnson County ASC and FHA, and the Johnson County Planning and Zoning Commission. He was one of the founders for Johnson County Pork Producers, and had served as township clerk of Pleasant Valley Township for over twenty-five years. Howard was known throughout the state and nation for his Duroc Pork Production operations, serving as director for the Iowa State Duroc Association and the National Duroc Association. His family includes his wife, Mary; son, Steve Berry and his wife, Janet of Iowa City; daughters, Linda Ridenour and her husband, Patrick of Iowa City, and Susan Thomann and her husband, Dean of Riverside; four grandchildren, Chad Berry and his fiancée, Wendy Royston, Christopher Berry and his wife, Lori, Deanna Thomann, and Dana Thomann. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Edwin Berry. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Howard’s family and his services.