Mary Berckhan

Mary W. Berckhan, 85, of Fort Dodge, IA, died Sunday, March 6, 2022, at Unity Point – Trinity Regional Medical Center.  Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Monday, March 14, 2022, at the First Presbyterian Church, 1111 5th Avenue North, with Rev. Sara Hill officiating. Services will be live streamed via the First Presbyterian Church and Historic Bruce Funeral Home Facebook pages.  Interment will take place at the International Order of Odd Fellows Cemetery in Brooklyn, IA  at 3:30 PM on Monday.  Visitation will be from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM on Sunday, March 13, 2022, at the Historic Bruce Funeral Home, 923 1st Avenue South.  Memorials may be directed to the family. 

Mary was born September 15, 1936, in New Orleans, LA, the daughter of Phillip C. and Alice C. (Carlson) Wakeley.  She graduated from High School in New Orleans in 1954, and continued her education at Iowa State College in Ames, IA.  She graduated in 1958, with her BA Degree in Home Economics.  Mary was united in marriage to Ronald D. Berckhan on August 24, 1958, at the Collegiate Presbyterian Church in Ames.  Mary worked in fabric retail for Fabric Land, JCPenney and Sears.  In 1979, she became employed with the Fort Dodge School District (Teachers Aide/Special Education) until her retirement in 2003.  Mary enjoyed spending time with her family – especially her grandchildren.  She was a very active grandmother.  She also enjoyed quilting, sewing, cross stitch, and art.  Mary was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, where she also belonged to the church sewing and quilting groups.  She was also a member of the Fort Dodge Quilt Club and the National TTT Society.

Mary is survived by 2 daughters:  Linda Glaman and husband Mark of Kennewick, WA, and Kelly Grooms and husband Alan of Oregon, WI; 2 grandchildren:  Marissa Grooms and Nathan Grooms; and 2 siblings: Jim Wakeley of Ponchatoula, LA and Jane Johnson of Andover, MA.  She is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 2021; and 2 siblings:  Pat Wakeley and Tendon Wakeley.

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