Kendra Janene Berry

Kendra was born on May 21, 1985 in Sedalia, MO to Kenneth and Vicki Lake. She graduated High School in 2004 from Applewood Christian School in Sedalia, MO. She started serving God early in life, including serving on 2 mission trips to Haiti during her senior year of high school. In 2007 she married Kevin Berry at the church in which they were ministering in Altoona, KS. In 2008 she graduated from Ozark Christian College with a bachelor’s degree in Children’s Ministry and another bachelor’s degree in Family Ministry. After graduating from Ozark, the couple moved to Cincinnati, OH where Kevin pursued a Master of Divinity degree. During that time Kendra ministered to her community by caring for people with developmental disabilities. She did similar work when Kevin served as the minister in Amoret, MO. She truly enjoyed showing love to all people, despite their challenges. Kendra served the Kingdom of God in many ways, including writing and developing her own VBS curriculum, teaching Sunday School, leading several women’s Bible studies, and specifically working to reach the women of her community. She dedicated her life to serving her Lord by telling people about Jesus, and she never stopped.

Throughout her adult life Kendra dealt with many challenges. During their time in Amoret, Kendra and Kevin experienced the loss of three children to miscarriage (Enoch, Corban, Karin). On December 30, 2011 Kendra experienced a seizure which led to the discovery of a brain tumor. Over the years treatment has involved 4 brain surgeries, 3 years of chemotherapy, and 6 weeks of proton radiation. As time went on, she gradually lost more abilities including reading, writing, and speaking. Yet she continued to reach out to those around her. In fact, her cancer diagnosis intensified her passion to spread the good news of Jesus, and she used every opportunity to speak and minister to others. The couple walked through many other challenges, but she always stayed faithful to God and her family.

One of Kendra’s life-long desires was to be a mom. She was blessed to give birth to her 4th child, Tabitha (2013). She worked very hard to instill the love of God in her daughter, and made plans to care for Tabitha and to encourage her ongoing spiritual growth.

Many times, she expressed a desire to help the American church to become what God intended it to be. She worked and prayed to find ways to bring people to know the real Jesus. Even as she was dying, she asked that her story be told so that others could know what the love and peace of God looked like. Please use her story to reach those who need Jesus.

In keeping with Kendra’s wishes, any contributions given in her memory will be distributed by the family to various organizations that will share the gospel.

Kendra was preceded in death by 3 children (miscarriages), both sets of grandparents, and one uncle.

Kendra leaves behind her husband: Kevin Berry and their daughter: Tabitha, her parents: Ken and Vicki Lake; her sister: Lynette (Scotty) Willis and their children: Tyler (Grace and daughter Mia), Kyle, Rachel, Kayla, Emily; in-laws: Jim and Dr. Elaine Berry; sisters-in-law: Rhonda Berry (fiancé Stuart), Teresa (Isaac) Turner; Grandmother-in-law: Marlys Berry, as well as many aunts, uncles, and cousins and other relatives and dear friends.

VISITATION Sunday, March 5 from 4-7 pm at Wildewood Christian Church. FUNERAL SERVICE Monday, March 6 at 10:30 am at Wildewood Christian Church. BURIAL Monday, March 6 at 3 pm at Oakwood Cemetery in Lewis, Iowa.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.KahlerDolceMortuary.com for the Berry family.