Morris
June 11, 1950 — February 9, 2014
James "Morris" Berndt was born on June 11, 1950 to David and Lucille (Bryan) Berndt in Trenton, Missouri. He graduated from Ravanna High School in Ravanna, Missouri with the Class of 1968. He went on to earn his Masters Degree in English from Northwest Missouri State University.
On August 17, 1974, Morris was united in marriage to Laura Cooper in Shenandoah, Iowa. There were six children born to them: Bryan, Aaron, Andrea, Stephen, Patricia, and Teressa who died in infancy.
Morris spent one year teaching in Missouri before the family relocated to Avoca, Iowa. He spent several years teaching English and German at the Junior High and High School levels before his health forced him to retire in 2007. He was a long-time member of the National Education Association.
He was an avid fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and the St. Louis Cardinals, watching the football and baseball games whenever he could. He also liked to watch Jeopardy. He collected comic books, loved going to estate auctions, was a member of a science fiction book club, and maintained a five-star rating on Ebay. Morris was an excellent golfer and was very witty with a very dry sense of humor. His friends always called him the Come Back Kid.
In July of 2012, he became a resident of Elm Crest Retirement Center in Harlan, Iowa. This is where he died on Sunday, February 9, 2014 having attained the age of sixty-three years, seven months, and twenty-nine days. He was preceded in death by his father David and infant daughter Teresa.
Morris is survived by his wife Laura Berndt of Avoca, Iowa; children: Bryan Berndt of Avoca, Iowa, Aaron Berndt and his wife Lauren of Highland Park, Illinois, Andrea Berndt of Phoenix, Arizona, Stephen Berndt and his wife Michelle of Mansfield, Texas, and Patricia Berndt of West Des Moines, Iowa; mother Lucille Marlay of Trenton, Missouri; four grandchildren: Grayce Berndt, Tristan Berndt, Brooklyn Buck, and Cooper Berndt; other family members and many friends.
Rev. Thomas Dooley officiated the 2:00 PM funeral service on Wednesday, February 12, 2014 at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca, Iowa. Honorary casket bearers were Terry Peters, Vincent Archer, Barb Bucher, Artema Hodges, Rita Kolscheen, and Rhonda Hope. Serving as casket bearers were Michael Williams, Jon P. Vest, Patrick Schoeller, Dan Merriam, Kim Weddum, Bill Hardesty, Craig Cooper, and Kyle Cooper. Interment was held at Graceland Cemetery in Avoca.
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On August 17, 1974, Morris was united in marriage to Laura Cooper in Shenandoah, Iowa. There were six children born to them: Bryan, Aaron, Andrea, Stephen, Patricia, and Teressa who died in infancy.
Morris spent one year teaching in Missouri before the family relocated to Avoca, Iowa. He spent several years teaching English and German at the Junior High and High School levels before his health forced him to retire in 2007. He was a long-time member of the National Education Association.
He was an avid fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and the St. Louis Cardinals, watching the football and baseball games whenever he could. He also liked to watch Jeopardy. He collected comic books, loved going to estate auctions, was a member of a science fiction book club, and maintained a five-star rating on Ebay. Morris was an excellent golfer and was very witty with a very dry sense of humor. His friends always called him the Come Back Kid.
In July of 2012, he became a resident of Elm Crest Retirement Center in Harlan, Iowa. This is where he died on Sunday, February 9, 2014 having attained the age of sixty-three years, seven months, and twenty-nine days. He was preceded in death by his father David and infant daughter Teresa.
Morris is survived by his wife Laura Berndt of Avoca, Iowa; children: Bryan Berndt of Avoca, Iowa, Aaron Berndt and his wife Lauren of Highland Park, Illinois, Andrea Berndt of Phoenix, Arizona, Stephen Berndt and his wife Michelle of Mansfield, Texas, and Patricia Berndt of West Des Moines, Iowa; mother Lucille Marlay of Trenton, Missouri; four grandchildren: Grayce Berndt, Tristan Berndt, Brooklyn Buck, and Cooper Berndt; other family members and many friends.
Rev. Thomas Dooley officiated the 2:00 PM funeral service on Wednesday, February 12, 2014 at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Avoca, Iowa. Honorary casket bearers were Terry Peters, Vincent Archer, Barb Bucher, Artema Hodges, Rita Kolscheen, and Rhonda Hope. Serving as casket bearers were Michael Williams, Jon P. Vest, Patrick Schoeller, Dan Merriam, Kim Weddum, Bill Hardesty, Craig Cooper, and Kyle Cooper. Interment was held at Graceland Cemetery in Avoca.
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