Irving Berry

Irving John “Irv” Berry, 87, of Jackson passed away Friday, Oct. 13, 2017, at Life Care Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Sept. 13, 1930, in Huntington, Long Island, New York, son of Kenneth Lindsey Berry and Julia Baker Easton. He and Rosemary Sebaugh were married Aug. 27, 1955, at Sargents Chapel Lutheran Church in Sedgewickville, Missouri.

Irv grew up on Long Island, and was a 1949 graduate of Huntington High School in Long Island. He earned an associate degree in animal husbandry from State University of New York at Delhi. In later years, he earned a degree in accounting.

In 1951, he was drafted into the U.S. Marine Corps, serving two years during the Korean War. In 1954, he enlisted into the U.S. Air Force and went into pilot training. He flew four-engine transports over the world for 18 years, serving one year in Vietnam. He retired as a major in 1972, with 10,000 flying hours.

Following his military retirement, Irving and Rosemary moved to Jackson. Together, with their children, they farmed the family farm near Fruitland, raising cattle and hogs, and running a dairy operation. He was a member of the Guernsey Breeders Association.

While raising their children, Irv and Rosemary were members of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Jackson, serving on various committees of the church and school. They later attended St. John’s United Church of Christ near Fruitland.

Survivors include his loving wife of 62 years, Rosemary of Jackson; four sons, Mark Berry of Jackson, Matthew (Barbara) Berry of Belleville, Illinois, Michael (Nancy) Berry and Kenneth (Elaine) Berry, both of Jackson; a daughter, Julie (Michael) Glaus of Delta; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a brother and a sister.

A memorial visitation will be from noon to service time today in Chapel B of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

The memorial service will be at 2 p.m. today at the funeral home, with Dr. Rodney Pensel officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to St. John’s United Church of Christ in Jackson, Sargents Chapel Lutheran Church in Sedgewickville or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.