Official Obituary of
Adria I. Berkshire
January 18, 1916 ~ November 13, 2015 (age 99) 99 Years Old
Adria Berkshire Obituary
Adria Iona Berkshire of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa formerly of Westwood, Iowa passed away peacefully on Friday, November 13, 2015, of natural causes at Park Place Elder Living Center in Mt. Pleasant.
She was born on January 18, 1916, in Crawfordsville, Iowa, daughter of Garry and Rebecca (Squire) Lease. She grew up in Crawfordsville, after finishing her school there; she enrolled in the Paris Academy of Beauty in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. After graduating, she worked in several beauty shops in Iowa before returning home to open a shop of her own. In 1938 she was united in marriage to Wayne Berkshire and moved to Mt. Pleasant where he barbered and she worked in a number of shops as well. After they started a family, she decided to become a stay-at-home mom. They had two daughters. While the girls were small, Adria was involved in Girl Scouts as a troop leader for several years. She was active in the women's organization of the Methodist Church.
In 1956, Wayne and Adria, along with another couple, purchased land west of Mt. Pleasant and built their homes. The Berkshire's home was the first house built in what is now the city of Westwood. After retiring, they moved back to Mt. Pleasant to an independent living retirement village where Adria resided until May 2015. She lived out the rest of her 99 years; just 2 months shy of 100, at Park Place Elder Living Center where she received wonderful care.
Adria enjoyed working in her flower gardens, reading, and watching the Iowa Hawkeye Boys basketball. Her friends and family will remember her for her great sense of humor, a sparkling twinkle in her eye along with a wink, and her orneriness and spunk. She was a truly amazing woman that will be greatly missed by everyone whose lives she touched.
Adria is survived by her two daughters; Janet Shumaker of Mt. Pleasant and JoAnn Shumaker (Jim) of Cedar Rapids, 6 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren, her sister-in-law Helen Lease, a nephew Earl Haberman (Bev) and a very special niece Christine Stauffer.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Wayne in 1991, one brother Richard Lease and her son-in-law John Shumaker.
Private services for family and close friends will be held at a later date at the Murphy Funeral Home with Rev. Deborah Stowers officiating. Burial will be in the Forest Home Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Park Place Activities for General Care in her memory and mailed to the family at Judd Shumaker 2585 Logan Ave. Mt. Pleasant, Iowa 52641.
She was born on January 18, 1916, in Crawfordsville, Iowa, daughter of Garry and Rebecca (Squire) Lease. She grew up in Crawfordsville, after finishing her school there; she enrolled in the Paris Academy of Beauty in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. After graduating, she worked in several beauty shops in Iowa before returning home to open a shop of her own. In 1938 she was united in marriage to Wayne Berkshire and moved to Mt. Pleasant where he barbered and she worked in a number of shops as well. After they started a family, she decided to become a stay-at-home mom. They had two daughters. While the girls were small, Adria was involved in Girl Scouts as a troop leader for several years. She was active in the women's organization of the Methodist Church.
In 1956, Wayne and Adria, along with another couple, purchased land west of Mt. Pleasant and built their homes. The Berkshire's home was the first house built in what is now the city of Westwood. After retiring, they moved back to Mt. Pleasant to an independent living retirement village where Adria resided until May 2015. She lived out the rest of her 99 years; just 2 months shy of 100, at Park Place Elder Living Center where she received wonderful care.
Adria enjoyed working in her flower gardens, reading, and watching the Iowa Hawkeye Boys basketball. Her friends and family will remember her for her great sense of humor, a sparkling twinkle in her eye along with a wink, and her orneriness and spunk. She was a truly amazing woman that will be greatly missed by everyone whose lives she touched.
Adria is survived by her two daughters; Janet Shumaker of Mt. Pleasant and JoAnn Shumaker (Jim) of Cedar Rapids, 6 grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren, her sister-in-law Helen Lease, a nephew Earl Haberman (Bev) and a very special niece Christine Stauffer.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Wayne in 1991, one brother Richard Lease and her son-in-law John Shumaker.
Private services for family and close friends will be held at a later date at the Murphy Funeral Home with Rev. Deborah Stowers officiating. Burial will be in the Forest Home Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Park Place Activities for General Care in her memory and mailed to the family at Judd Shumaker 2585 Logan Ave. Mt. Pleasant, Iowa 52641.
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