Stephen Dean Berry

Parnell-Stephen Dean Berry was born on February 10, 1947 in Sigourney IA. He is the son of Dean Clement Berry and Margaret Clare Murphy Berry who resided in Armah Township. Steve passed on Monday, April 27, 2020 surrounded by the love of his brothers and sisters who will miss him dearly and forever cherish his memory.

Steve grew up in Parnell, graduated from Williamsburg High School in 1965 where he played basketball and was an Iowa State Meet finalist in track. He graduated from Loras College in Dubuque IA in 1969. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Parnell until it closed and then attended Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church in North English and St. Mary's Catholic Church in Williamsburg.

A history major in college, Steve's life was defined by his love for reading and gathering information. He was an avid reader of books, newspapers, and periodicals. He was not only well read, but whip smart, witty, and a great conversationalist. He was always up to date on politics, economics, and sports of every type and at every level. He was a true-blue Hawkeye and Minnesota Twins fan, but on any given day you might find Steve rooting for Iowa State, Northern Iowa, Drake, the New England Patriots, the Packers, the Chiefs, the Bears, the Brewers, the Cubs, the Royals, the Cardinals and many other teams because, for Steve, there was no such thing as too much sports!

Steve also had a magic touch in the garden. He loved to garden and plant flowers. He was the crew chief on the Berry family tomato farm and was patient and kind when teaching his younger brothers and sister the proper way to tend a field.

Steve is survived by his siblings, Mary (George) Lower Chesterfield MO, Joanne (David) Tigges, North Liberty IA, Bernard Berry, Stilwell KS, Dr. William (Darlene) Berry, Marshfield WI, Kathleen (Larry) Zimpleman, Cumming IA, Dean (Diane) Berry, Williamsburg VA.

He leaves nieces and nephews who loved their Uncle Steve and the memories of riding with him in what they dubbed the "Magic Car" over the country roads around Parnell, drinking Pepsi....from the bottle; Lauri (Scott) Jenkins, Maggie (Shannon) Lower, Tim (Lauren) Lower, Anne (Sean) Weldon, Jennifer (Ryan) Johnson, Nicole (Jamie) Kinjerski, Erica (David) Loomis, Maria Berry, Dave Berry, Kaitlin Berry, Hannah (Dan) Holena, Betsy Berry/Mike Hendrickson, Danielle (Thomas) Vevea-Schweitzer, Rebecca (Daniel) Vevea-Pfeiffer, Christopher Zimpleman, Thomas (Anne King) Zimpleman, Melanie Berry, and Aleck Berry. Steve had great nieces and nephews who will come to know him by the stories we will continue to tell them; Jackson, Courtney, and Katie Jenkins, Jasper and Rowan Lower-Holmes, William and Chloe Lower, Luke, Flaherty, and Finn Weldon, Ezekiel Johnson, Cadence and Alexander Kinjerski, Kennedy, Reagan, and Carter Loomis, Gus and Henry Holena, Otto Berry, Jack and Lola Schweitzer, Max Pfeiffer, Nathaniel and Greta Zimpleman.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents and a nephew, Jeff Zimpleman.

The family wants to thank the doctors and nurses in the ICU and Palliative Care Units at the University Hospital in Iowa City for taking care of Steve. In these difficult times, the staff made an extra effort to keep the family updated on Steve's care and to provide an opportunity for each one of us to talk to Steve before he left us. Steve was an organ donor.

A Celebration of Steve's life will be 11:00 am on Saturday, September 25, 2021 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in North English. Burial will be at Armah Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Armah Cemetery Association, c/o White Star Bank, 209 Main Street PO Box 68, South English IA 52335, the Parnell Little League, or a charity of your choice. Powell Funeral Home in Williamsburg is caring for arrangements. Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com