Mary Berry

Mary Berry, age 95, of Decorah, IA, died on Saturday, February 10, 2018 at the Good Samaritan Society in Waukon, IA. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, February 17, 2018 at the Schluter-Balik Funeral Home, 604 South Avenue, Decorah, IA, with Rev. Stacey Nalean-Carlson. Burial will be in the Emmanuel United Presbyterian Cemetery in Pennsylvania at a later date. Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until the time of service at the funeral home on Saturday, February 17, 2018. Mary Permelia Berry was born on December 28. 1922 in Washington, Pennsylvania to Joseph and Ida Mae (Mumbower) Mowl. She attended Mount Lookout School which was a one room country school growing up and Later graduated from Trinity High School in Washington, Pennsylvania. She married Russell Bankhead-Berry on June 12, 1941. Together they had three children: Martha Jean, William “Bill” and Elizabeth Ann. Mary worked at the Top Value Stamp store for a couple of years and then stayed home and raised her children and helped Russell on the farm. She moved to Iowa in 2004 to be closer to family after her husband passed away. Mary liked to embroider, square dance and travel. She was an Honorary member of Canoe Ridge Lutheran Church and a life member of Emmanuel United Presbyterian Church 84 in Pennsylvania, the Davis Grange and Pamona Grange organizations. She served on the election board in Washington Township for many years from her home. Mary is survived by her two children: Martha (Donald) Hanson, Decorah, IA and William Berry, Mariana, PA. Six grandchildren: Bethany (Shayne) Barr, St. Louis, MO; Donald Jr. Hanson, Bloomington, MN; Anita (Al) Weis, Decorah, IA; Dean (Roxanne) Hanson, Chanhassen, MN; Rick Schroeder, Greensborough, NC and Melissa (Scott) Berry, Canonsburg, PA. Eight great grandchildren: Ian, Benjamin and Cullen Barr, Richard, Helen, Henry and Rachel Weis, Tara and Tori Schroeder along with many nieces and nephews. Mary was preceded in death by her husband Russell in 1996. Daughter: Elizabeth Ann in 1963. Parents: Joseph and Ida Mae (Mumbower) Mowl. Sister: Annie (Alfred) Kelley. Brothers: William (June) Mowl, Ross (Dottie) Mowl, Allen (Vivian) Mowl, Charles (Marie) Mowl, Kenneth “Doc” (Olive) Mowl, and two in infancy.