Maria Berry

Maria Caecilie Berry, the daughter of Margarete (Magin) and Valentin Gehlert, was born November 1, 1926 in Frankenthal, Rheinphals, Germany. She was educated in Germany and became a naturalized United States citizen on April 12, 1957. On October 3, 1953, Maria was married to Schuyler Donald Berry in Cherokee, IA. They moved to Estherville, Iowa where they raised their family. Maria worked as a LPN in several hospitals and healthcare facilities in Europe and the United States before retiring in 1990. Maria and Skeeter spent their retirement years in Arnolds Park, Iowa and Weslaco, Texas. Maria was a member of the St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Milford, Catholic Daughters and the Ladies Auxiliary VFW. She was very active in St. Joseph's Ugly Quilts program making quilts for the homeless. Maria also volunteered at the Chamber of Commerce. Maria will be best remembered for her kindness to others. She loved her family and friends dearly and put in countless volunteer hours for causes close to her heart. Maria's gift of beautiful crocheted afghans will warm our bodies and our hearts and she will be missed by all who's lives she touched. Maria passed away August 14, 2013 at the Milford Nursing Center in Milford, Iowa at eighty-six years of age. She is survived by her son, Michael John Berry and his wife, Sheryl, daughter, Arlene Berry Luchtel and her husband, Dean and son, Timothy Joseph Berry and his wife, Judy; grandchildren, John Berry (Megan), Tara Berry, Barry Luchtel (Kelly), Landon Luchtel (Megan), Molly Hammer (Bryson), Emily Berry and Nathan Berry; great-grandchildren, Aiden Michael, Mieya Rose, Bear Henry and Griffin Dean. Maria was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Schuyler Donald Berry.