Richard Denis Berry

Richard Denis Berry, 80, passed away at home on January 21, 2015, in Glendora, California. Denis was born in Chicago, Illinois on July 30, 1934, to the late Richard Joseph and Audrey Kathryn ( Fulton ) Berry. He graduated from Corpus Christi High School, in Galesburg, Illinois, in 1952, and the University of Notre Dame in 1956. Denis married Carol Lea (Timberlake) Berry on January 19, 1957, and celebrated their 58th anniversary this year. Denis was honored to serve two years in the United States Army from 1957 to 1959, at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. After his service, Denis began his career in sales and marketing in Peoria, Illinois. Denis and family moved to Glendora, California, in 1969, where he worked at Rain Bird Sprinklers Manufacturing Corporation until his retirement in 1989. In retirement, Denis volunteered as an ombudsman for long-term care patients and an AARP tax preparer for senior citizens. In his spare time, Denis enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, traveling, playing cards with Carol, and grilling the best Fourth of July ribs in Los Angeles County. Denis also occasionally paced in the front yard during the final minutes of Notre Dame football games.

Along with his parents, Denis was preceded in death by his sister Mary Berry (Sister Sharon of the Order of Saint Benedict). He is survived by his loving wife Carol; two sisters, Barbara (Thomas) Saggau and Sheila (Bernard) Seibert; four children, Denise (Norm) Lopez of San Bernardino, California, Sean (Mary Anne) Berry of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Patrick (Hannah) Berry of Chaska, Minnesota, and Amy (Gregg) Kloke of Chanhassen, Minnesota; fourteen grandchildren, Trisha (Mark) Ortiz; Lauren, Christine, and Norman (Pam) Lopez; Patrick, Timothy, Joseph, and Finbar Berry; Sydney, Samuel, and Jessie Berry; David, Ryan, and Benjamin Kloke; and three great-grandchildren, Paisley and Jonah Ortiz; and Araceli Lopez.

A Funeral Mass with Father Peadar Cronin of Damien High School officiating will be held at noon on Saturday, January 31, at Saint Dorothy’s Catholic Church in Glendora, California. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers that Mass intentions be made in memory of Denis, or for memorial contributions to be made to the American Heart Association.