William Berens

William Lee Berens was born July 9, 1950, to Leo and Ramona (Mahlberg) Berens in Dunlap, Iowa. He was raised in the Dunlap area and graduated from Dunlap High School in 1968. Bill proudly served his country in the Air Force from 1968 to 1974. After his honorable discharge he worked for UPS in Omaha. Bill married Linda Bellamy on September 24, 1976, in Farnam, Nebraska. The couple was blessed with two children. In 1979 the couple moved to Elwood, Nebraska where Bill worked for Bellamy’s Implement as a John Deere salesman. He later worked for his brother, then a John Deere dealer in Norfolk, Nebraska, then back to Elwood working for Hoch Farm Supply.

Bill loved golf, baseball and the Cornhuskers. He was an avid reader of western stories and particularly loved watching Bonanza and Gunsmoke.

Bill died on June 26, 2011, in Omaha, Nebraska at the age of 60 years, 11 months, and 17 days.

Bill was preceded in death by his father in 1995. He is survived by his two daughters, Sara and her husband Todd Tones of Sugar Land, TX, Jessica Berens of Omaha, NE; two grandchildren, Will and Bellamy Tones; mother, Ramona Berens of Dunlap, IA; brother, Bob Berens and his wife Francie of Omaha, NE; sister, Debbie Hrabik of Omaha, NE; ex-wife, Linda Berens of Omaha, NE; and many other relatives and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial
2:00 pm Friday, July 1, 2011
St. Patrick’s Catholic Church
Dunlap, Iowa

Celebrant
Rev. Chris Fontanini

Musicians
Marilyn Grote
Ann Gredys ~ Jerry Baldwin

Pall Bearers
Kevin Mahlberg ~ Perry Kotschwar ~ Chuck O’Day
Tom O’Day ~ Michael Berens ~ Craig Philips

Military Graveside Rites
Dunlap American Legion Post #224

Final Resting Place
Pleasant Hill Cemetery
Dunlap, Iowa