Donald Henry Berends

Donald Henry Berends

Marion

Donald Henry Berends, 94, of Marion, Iowa, formerly of Cedar Rapids, went peacefully into the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus on Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022.

A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, 10:30 a.m. at Crosslife Community Church, 5555 Mt. Vernon Rd. SE.

Don was born Oct. 6, 1928, to Henry H. and Marie Irene (Meyocks) Berends in Cedar Rapids. Don married Josephine Fernandez on April 23, 1949. They lived in Cedar Rapids all of his life and wintered in Texas and Arizona from 1989-2020 when Covid-19 caused them to relocate to Marion. Don served in the Marine Corps, was a millwright with Local 2158 out of Bettendorf, was a member of Crosslife Community Church, he took joy in building and remodeling homes and took great delight in and loved each and every family member and many friends.

Don is survived by his wife Josephine; children, Donald Jr. (Connie) Berends, Kathleen Stuelke, Tricia Ferguson and Ronald (Veronica) Berends; sisters-in-law, Fern Berends, Mary O’Connor, Delores Simonsen and Linda (Robert) Brandt; 17 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, 20 great-great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, and our “at heart son,” Gary (Diana) Stromer.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Fern Duckett, Mildred Knowles and Katherine Meyer; brothers, Clifford Nastril, Raymond, Dean and Dale (twins, died at birth) and Robert Berends; and sons-in-law, Douglas J. Stuelke and Aaron P. Ferguson.

A special thanks to Pastor Erik Bennett and Crosslife Church family and the many workers of Care Initiative Hospice for their love, care and concern and all the prayer warriors who lifted us up during this time.