Wayne C. Berry Sr., 99, of Paris, Illinois died Friday, March 6, 2020 at Horizon Health.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2020 at Grace Lutheran Church in Paris. Friends may call from 10:00 a.m. until the service time at the church. Graveside services will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 12, 2020 in Crest Haven Memorial Park in Claremont, Illinois. The Stewart and Carroll Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Wayne was born on May 10, 1920 in Richland County, Illinois. He was the son of Harvey and Marcia Berry. He married Bernadine Walser on June 21, 1940, at Olney, Illinois. She preceded him in death on December 13, 2004.

He is survived by a son Robert D. Berry and his wife Donna of Fenton, Missouri; two daughters, Janette M. Van Hoesen and her husband Bill of Bethalto, Illinois and Barbara K. Berger and her husband John of Nashville, Tennessee; a daughter-in-law Glenda Berry of Paris, Illinois; 9 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; 6 great-great grandsons; several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Bernadine; son Wayne Jr.; 2 brothers and 4 sisters.

Wayne and Bernadine owned and operated Berry’s Grocery Store in Claremont, Illinois for many years. He then worked for the U.S. Postal Service as a rural letter carrier for 23 years retiring on June 1, 1987. He and his wife enjoyed many bus trips in their retirement years.

During World War II, Wayne served with the 10th Mountain Division of the U.S. Army in Italy. He saw action in the Po Valley where he was awarded the Bronze Star. For nearly 70 years he was a member of both the V.F.W. and the American Legion.

A self-taught craftsman, Wayne practically built their home in Claremont as well as a small mother-in-law house next door. He spent hours in his wood working shop crafting beautiful furniture. Often remarking that he only built boxes; the desks and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves he made for his children and church proved otherwise.

Mr. Berry was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Olney, Illinois, and in later years of Grace Lutheran Church in Paris, Illinois.

Memorial donations may be made to the Wayne Berry, Jr. Scholarship Fund or Grace Lutheran Child Development Center Endowment Fund in care of Stewart and Carroll Funeral Home.

Olney Daily Mail (IL) – obituary & photo – March 10, 2020