Marvin Berens

Marvin W. "Barney" Berens, 86, of Sioux City died Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007, at a Sioux City hospital following a brief illness.

Services will be 10:30 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 Aug. 22, 1920, in Sioux City, the son of William and Margaret (Sweeney) Berens. He attended St. Boniface Grade School and graduated from Trinity High School in 1938. He then worked for Fritzell Engineering Company before serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He served in the Naval Seabees from 1942 to 1945. He participated in the invasion of Southern France and Iwo Jima.

He married Darlene Person on April 7, 1941, in Humphrey, Neb. She died May 19, 1989, in Sioux City. He was an electrician for Casler and Thompson Electric for 38 years. In the 1970s, he worked as a lure operator at Sodrac Dog Track in North Sioux City.

He was a member of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 231 since 1945. He was a lifelong member of St. Boniface Catholic Church, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He enjoyed woodcrafts and it was his hobby since 1982.

Survivors include a daughter and her husband, Sandra and Mark Cripps of Sioux City; a brother, Donald Berens of Sioux City; a sister, Margie Schlesser of Lawton, Iowa; six grandchildren and spouses, Debbie Cochrun, Marvin and Chris Pottebaum, Jean and Dennis Miller, Patty and Mike Hanson, Cindy Pottebaum and Russ Cripps; 13 great-grandchildren, Corey Pottebaum, Tabitha and Ben Pottebaum, D.J., Amanda, Kayla, Ashley and Kelsey Miller, Jessica, Brandon and Amy Hanson, Michael and Jason Smithwick; and two great-great-grandchildren, Kaelyn Snoozy and Carson Swanson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Darlene; two daughters, Mary Ann Pottebaum and Carol Harder; and three brothers, Wayne, Earl and Gerald "Mike" Berens.

Pallbearers will be Marvin, Ben and Corey Pottebaum, Dennis and D.J. Miller and Russ Cripps.