On Thursday, June 20, 2019, Richard "Dick" Dean Berens, loving husband and
father, passed away at the age of 79, in his Clarion home, following a hastened
battle with cancer.
Father Jerry Blake will hold a Memorial Mass at St. John's Catholic Church, 608
2nd Avenue Northeast in Clarion, beginning at 1:30 PM on June 24, 2019. Burial
will be held at St. John's Catholic Cemetery in Clarion following the Memorial
Mass.
On Sunday, June 23, 2019, there will be a rosary and scriptural wake at 3:30 PM
with a visitation to follow until 6:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central
Avenue East in Clarion.
Richard Dean, son of William and Ione (Kirschbaum) Berens was born on July 21,
1939, in Atlantic. He later lived in Halbur, before moving to Clarion, where he
graduated with the class of 1957. He went on to attend Iowa State University,
completing Iowa State's dairy program. Dick's time in Ames cultivated two
prominent themes in his life; the Cyclones and the dairy industry.
On June 4, 1960, Dick was united in marriage to Shirley Murphy. They made their
home in Clarion and were blessed with two daughters, Chris and Leann.
After, and even before Iowa State while in high school, Dick worked at the
Clarion Dairy, which later became Anderson Erickson Dairy. Dick was a routeman
and supervisor for Anderson Erickson and later worked in the company's Des
Moines office, which prompted Dick and Shirley to move to Pleasant Hill. Dick
worked for Anderson Erickson's Des Moines location for the next 15 years until
his retirement.
Upon retirement, Dick and Shirley relocated to Mountain View, Arkansas. While in
Arkansas, Dick, a man of great faith, was an active member of St. Mary's
Catholic Church in Mountain View. Additionally, he enjoyed hitting the links and
spending time with his friends and family on his boat. He loved challenging all
takers to a cliff jump and was more than happy to show anyone the perfect way to
launch off the thirty plus foot drop into Lake Norfolk below.
Dick and Shirley moved back to Clarion in 2014, where, weather permitting, Dick
enjoyed his daily round of golf with his favorite foursome of friends and
classmates. A tireless worker, even in retirement Dick was always willing to
improve upon and be a part of his community. He was on the board at the
Heartland Museum and enjoyed giving numerous tours while reeling off countless
facts for several years. He was also a member of St. John's Catholic Church
where he served on various boards over the years. Further, he enjoyed watching
nearly every sport on television, especially golf and anything involving his
beloved Iowa State Cyclones
Dick spent a lifetime helping others and never met stranger, or if he did, he or
she wouldn't stay that way for long. He was a kind man that loved to visit with
everyone and could always come up with a thought-provoking topic. He will be
missed by everyone lucky enough to have met him, especially those lucky enough
to receive a card from him with his patented, stamp like, yet unmistakably hand
drawn cigar man.
Dick is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Shirley;
two daughters, Chris (Dan) Mallen of Urbandale and Leann (Rod) Sebert of
Belmond; six grandchildren; five great-grandsons; brother Larry (Fran) Berens of
Manchester; one niece and one nephew as well as their children.