A visitation will be held Thursday, August 4 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Stevens Memorial Chapel in Ames. Funeral services will be on Friday, August 5 at 10:30 a.m. Burial will be in the Ames Municipal Cemetery.
Iona Ann was born to John and Talea (Lauterbach) Bullis on September 9, 1929. She grew up in the Iowa Falls area, attending rural schools and graduating from Iowa Falls High School where she met her future husband, Edward L. Berger. They were married on September 9, 1950. She graduated from Ellsworth Junior College in Iowa Falls with an Elementary Education degree and taught first grade for two years in Geneva, Iowa. She joined her husband in South Carolina as Edward served in the army during the Korean War. They returned to Iowa and had two children, William (Bill) John, and Elizabeth (Lisa) Ann.
Iona Ann taught third grade for three years at St. Cecilia's School in Ames before attending Iowa State University (starting back to school on her 39th birthday) and completing her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education. She then taught for 20 years in the Ballard Community School District. She taught first grade in both Slater and Cambridge.
Iona Ann and Edward enjoyed traveling after their retirement and enjoyed many trips to the Branson, Missouri area. Iona Ann was an avid reader and took great joy in teaching children to read. She was a very special wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was dearly loved by her family and will be greatly missed by them as well as friends and relatives.
Iona Ann is survived by her son, Bill, and his wife, Shelly, of Jefferson, and a daughter, Lisa, and her husband, David Amdahl, of Ames. She is also survived by four beautiful granddaughters: Valerie Greiner and her husband, Kent; Krystal Berger; Katie Amdahl and her fiancé, Alex Inman; and Kristin Amdahl. She is also survived by two wonderful great-grandchildren: Logan and Mila Greiner. She was preceded in death by her dear parents and husband.
Memorials may be directed to the family or be sent to the Ames Public Library. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.StevensMemorialChapel.com for the Berger family.
