Marion Eugene "Gene" Berry

Marion Eugene “Gene” Berry, 86, of Port Byron, passed away Friday, February 10, 2017 at his home. A celebration of life will be held from 5-7 PM, Friday, February 17, 2016 at The Runge Mortuary. Per his wishes cremation rites have been accorded. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Parkinson Foundation. Gene was born on December 1, 1930, in Muscatine, the son of Roy William and Dorothy Lucille (Long) Berry.

Gene was very eager at an early age to learn new things. He began taking dance lessons and learned to play the accordion. He began working by picking up pins at a bowling alley and closing up at night. Even with working after school, he finished high school. He attended Black Hawk College and went on to St. Ambrose University. He worked as a type setter at the Times and then went to work at the Dept. of Defense (Army) on Arsenal Island. He spent over 29 years working on the island. He studied computer programming and became the lead programmer for the ammunition department. Gene also loved to watch sporting events, from baseball to figure skating. But Gene’s greatest love was going to auctions. He especially loved going to Stenzel’s Auctions every Sunday. It was there he met Mildred who became a friend for life. He took care of her until her death. He collected everything and anything from signed Tiffany pieces to a Civil War cannon ball. Gene just loved to collect.

Those left to honor his memory include his lifelong partner, Jose; siblings Delores Riepe, Marlys Franklin, Darlene Martin, and Gary Berry.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Roy, Jr. and La Moyne. Online tributes may be expressed at www.rungemortuary.com.