Richard Duane Berry

Richard was born August 30, 1938, to Andrew M. Berry and Louise (Dupee) Berry in Stevens Point, Wisconsin where he lived until retirement to Florida. He lived a full and meaningful life defined by his unwavering devotion to family, valued relationships with friends, and genuine kindness toward others.

In 1961, Richard proudly served in the United States Army and then the Army National Guard. He went on to build a long and respected career in the engineering department of the Soo Line and Wisconsin Central Railroads. In September 1962, he married the love of his life, Carol Ann Netzel, beginning a partnership that spanned more than six decades.

He was preceded in death by parents Andrew and Louise Berry, brother David, and sister Beverly Lilteich, and is survived by brother Glen. Richard is survived by wife Carol and children Mark (wife Lisa), Krista (Jerry Zoromski), Brian (Kristin), and Richard (Jaime). He was a proud and devoted grandfather to Tanner and Max Zoromski and Austin, Nicole, Andrew, and Michael Berry. He cherished time with his grandchildren and made every effort to support and be present in their lives.

Richard, generally known by nickname “Dick”, will be remembered for his lifelong love of sports. As a young man, he enjoyed basketball, swimming, and track, placing second in the Wisconsin state high school championship mile run. As an adult, he coached the Stevens Point Youth Hockey Pee Wee’s to a state championship and became a devoted fan of the game.

His greatest passion was golf, which he took up in his twenties. He then taught his mother Louise to play, and together they went on to each win club championships the same year at Wisconsin River Country Club. He was a longtime member of the Stevens Point Country Club, where in his sixties he competed in the finals match of the club championship, and played regularly with family and friends with whom he maintained lifelong friendships.

Richard was a highly ranked cribbage player and known affectionately by family as the “Cribbage King.” At age 50, Richard embraced a new challenge by training for the Stevens Point Triathlon, which he successfully completed the following year—an achievement that reflected his determination and spirit.

Richard was a proud participant in the Wisconsin Longitudinal Study, which has followed the PJ Jacobs High School Class of 1957 and continues to contribute valuable health data to universities across the United States.

A private family celebration of Richard’s life will be held this summer in Wisconsin. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Breakthrough T1D in support of research for a cure for type 1 diabetes. http://www2.breakthrought1d.org/goto/DickBerry

Richard will be deeply missed and forever remembered.