Jan "Bear" Berry Obituary (1947

Jan "Bear" Berry, 71, of Baxter, had his "last one" and went home on Saturday, September 22, 2018. A visitation will be held from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. on Friday, September 28, 2018 at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Baxter. His memorial service will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 29, 2018 at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Baxter. A private family burial will be held at Restland Cemetery in Baxter, Iowa. Bear was born on August 28, 1947 in Marshalltown, Iowa to Arthur and Deloris (Halter) Berry. He attended school in Baxter and graduated from Baxter High School with the class of 1966. After school, Bear joined the Army. He served in Korea during the Vietnam War. Once returning home from the war he began working at Maytag in Newton, Iowa. He married Barbara Kreager at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Baxter on July 5, 1978. The couple resided in Baxter where they raised their family. Bear continued working for Maytag until he retired in 2001. He was a member of the Congregational United Church of Christ in Baxter, the UAW 997, the Izaak Walton League in Newton, and was the current president of the Watson Street Homeowner's Association. Bear loved to spend time with his family, hunting, fishing, watching NASCAR, socializing, and drinking beer with his friends. Those left to cherish his loving memory are his wife of 40 years Barbara Berry, of Baxter, IA; children Brenda (Rick) Umbarger of Newton, IA, JoAnne (Marty) Kunkel, of Newton, IA, Terry (Nikki) Berry, of Yukon, OK, and Josie Wright of Altoona, IA; grandchildren Dylan, Ava, Chloe, and Cooper; step-grandchildren Colton, and Lea; siblings Jeanette (Jim) Holland, Dennis (Arlene) Berry, and LuAnn Mihelich; sister-in-law Beth (Kalven) Simbro; brother-in-law Jimmy Kreager; and special friend David "Cowboy" Albrecht. Bear was preceded in death by his parents Arthur "Artie" and Deloris Berry, and nephew Scott Berry. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Baxter Fire Department or the Baxter Ambulance. Visitation Congregational United Church of Christ 218 Sout Main Street Baxter, IA 50028 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM Service Congregational United Church of Christ 218 Sout Main Street Baxter, IA 50028 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM