Richard 'Dick' Berens

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.