Richard Norton Berry

Richard Norton “Dick” Berry, 74, of St. Joseph, passed away unexpectedly in his home on February 7, 2013. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 13, at Stevensville United Methodist Church, 5506 Ridge Road, Stevensville, with Rev. Gordon Barry officiating. Burial will follow at Crystal Springs Cemetery, Benton Harbor with Military Rites being performed by the North Berrien Military Group. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorial Contributions may be made in Dick’s memory to the Lakeshore Rotary Club. To sign his guest book or leave an online condolence please visit our website at www.starks-menchinger.com. Dick was born on June 7, 1938, in St. Clare, Michigan to Norton E. Berry and Ruth M. (Berry) Earl. Norton preceded him in death in 1960; Ruth in 1994; step-father Edward Earl, as well as his sister, Barbara Ruth Arnberg in 1998; and sister-in-law, Joan (Jerry) Planutis in 2006. On April 23, 1960 in Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Joseph, he wed Jane Sue Peapples who also preceded him in death in 2008. Dick is survived by his daughter Christine Jane (Jim) Priebe of Granger, Indiana. Granddaughters, Alyssa Christine of Dowagiac, Michigan, and Kayzie Nicole and Jennifer Lauren both of Granger, son Scott Richard (Angela) Berry and grandchildren, Kaleb Charles and Kendall Jane of Stevensville; nephew and great-niece, John and Emily Planutis of California, niece Claire Place (Scott) of Arizona, as well as a nephew, Philip Wheatley of Missouri. He was also blessed to have found new happiness in 2009 with Janie Hild of Stevensville who also survives. Dick attended primary school in Newburg, Indiana, middle school at Washington School in Evansville and attended high school at Castle Heights Military Academy in Lebanon, Tennessee while graduating from Horton Watkins High School in Ledue, Missouri. He also attended the University of Missouri. Dick performed active duty in the U.S. Military July 1956 – July 1957 at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri and received an Honorable Discharge. He was employed at both Heath Corporation and Univex Ltd. before he founded Lakeshore Looseleaf Corporation in 1978 where he served as Chief Executive Officer until he sold the company in 2004. Dick was a member of Lakeshore Jaycees as well as a member of the Lincoln Township Board from 1969 – 1972 and 1980 – 1992. He served on the Lincoln Township Planning Commission in 1979 and 1980. He was appointed Chairman of the Township Safety Committee and managed the establishment of the Police Department. Dick was also a 35 year member of the Lakeshore Rotary Club where he served as Membership Director and was named Rotarian of the Year in 2000. He was Business Man of the Year in 1986. Dick was both an avid Lakeshore Lancer and Notre Dame Fighting Irish fan. His hobbies over the years included: traveling, sailing, tennis, golf, working out, reading, bird watching, following his grandchildren’s many activities, as well as spending time on Magician Lake. He also found great joy participating in the “Stevensville Coffee Group” and the Wednesday Night “Men’s Club” at the Grand Mere Inn. Dick was a past member of Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Lukes Lutheran Church and was currently an active member of Stevensville United Methodist Church where he served on the finance committee. He was a long time member of the Berrien Hills Country Club and the St. Joseph River Yacht Club. He participated in many races on Lake Michigan, the most noteworthy being in seven Chicago to Mackinaw races and the Port Huron to Mackinac Race. His boat “Celebration” was named Boat of the Year in both 1989 and 1991. Although taken from this earth so unexpectedly, Dick left this life an extremely happy man and will never be forgotten for his kind and gentle soul.