Berry Bennett

Berry Bennett, age 69 of Ankeny, IA, passed away after a brief illness on August 1, 2025 at Mercy One Hospital in Des Moines, IA.

He was born August 10, 1955 in Waterloo and raised on the family farm in La Porte City, Iowa.

After graduating from La Porte City High School, he attended Iowa State University where he met the love of his life, Mary Gradoville. He graduated with a degree in history, was a lifelong fan of the Cyclones, and was involved in the Ankeny Cyclone Club in various leadership roles.

Berry worked at the State Historical Preservation Office for more than thirty years, serving as the Preservation Program Manager before his retirement in 2023. He was valued as an expert on historic preservation resources available in Iowa, frequently being consulted by people across the state and country for information and guidance.

Berry was kind, generous, patient, thoughtful, and loving. Always willing to give his time to his friends and family who needed help, an ear to listen, or a shoulder to lean on. Berry’s calm demeanor and even-tempered disposition was the foundation upon which his family was built. He was as funny as he was wise, with a sly wit that was sharp and precise, but never cruel or bitter.
Above all else, Berry loved his kids and was proud of the adults they have grown to be. He also loved dogs as a kid, and that love carried on to adulthood. He was an avid reader, loving history and science fiction. Berry cherished the time he spent with family playing cards, board games, watching Band of Brothers, and going to movies. He also enjoyed the time he spent gardening with his wife. He took great pride in hosting family pizza night, making it all from scratch. He frequently shared his culinary creations with his co-workers and friends, also.

Berry was taken from us far too soon by an impossibly fast and aggressive pancreatic cancer, discovered a mere three weeks before his passing.

Berry is survived by his wife Mary, daughter Sarah (John) Bennett-George and son Josh (Patricia) Bennett, sisters Phyllis (Jerry) Fisher-Peet and Jane (Bruce) Sedman, and his dogs Reese and Shadow.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Beverly Bennett, his sister Mary Susan Bennett, and his dogs Major, Jessie, Tessa, and Lucy.

A memorial will be held on Friday, August 22 at 2:00 pm at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 121 NW 60th Ave, Des Moines IA with a visitation with family to follow until 4:00 pm. A celebration of life will begin at 6:00 pm at Wakonda Country Club. The family requests that all attending wear Hawaiian/aloha shirts, in honor of one of Berry’s favorite pieces of clothing.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to A Heinz 57 Pet Rescue, the National Kidney Foundation, or the National Pancreatic Cancer Foundation.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.hamiltonsfuneralhome.com

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