Wayne J. Berens

Wayne J. Berens, 80, of Sioux City died Monday, Nov. 27, 2006, at Holy Spirit Retirement Home following a lengthy illness.

Services will be 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Boniface Catholic Church, with the Rev. James Bruch officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 3 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Mr. Berens was born April 13, 1926, in Sioux City, the son of William and Margaret (Sweeney) Berens. He had five brothers and a sister. He attended St. Boniface Grade School and Central High School. He left high school at the age of 17 to join the U.S. Navy. He served during World War II from 1943 to 1946. He spent the majority of his service time at sea on ammunition ships. When he returned home, he went back to school and graduated from Central High School in June 1946.

He married Marge Nolan on Aug. 23, 1952, in Beldon, Neb. She died Oct. 10, 1998 in Sioux City.

He joined the Sioux City Fire Department in October 1949 and retired in 1967. He then went to work as a carpenter at Marian Health Center, where his wife, Marge, was a nurse. He retired from there in 1991.

He was an avid sports fan and especially loved to watch his boys play football. He was a talented carpenter and built many homes in Sioux City with his father. He had many, many friends, young and old.

He was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church all of his life. He also was a member of the Retired Fire Fighters Association.

Survivors include five sons, Mike Berens of Omaha, Tim Berens and his wife, Anne of Crete, Ill., Tom Berens of Bettendorf, Iowa, Pat Berens and his wife, Jamie of Bolingbrook, Ill., and Jim Berens and his fiancee, Veronica Murray of Sioux City; a daughter and her husband, Mary and Mike Miller of Sioux City; two brothers, Marvin and Donald, both of Sioux City; a sister, Marge Schlesser of Lawton, Iowa; and 10 grandchildren, Michael, Nolan and Kellan Berens, Paige and Megan Berens, Kaley, Jenna and Maggie Berens and Ross and Lindsey Miller.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Marge; and three brothers, Merle, Earl and Gerald "Mike" Berens.

Pallbearers will be Mike, Tim, Tom, Pat and Jim Berens and Mike Miller.

Memorials may be directed to Holy Spirit Retirement Home.