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About John Kenneth Delmas Berry
John Kenneth Delmas Berry, beloved family man, passed December ninth, two thousand twenty-five, in Mesa, Arizona. Born in nineteen thirty-seven in Harrisburg, Illinois, to Kenneth and Delma, he lived simply and loved grandly.
Survived by his wife of sixty-seven years, Myra Jane Cox, four sons—John, Jeff (Kelly), James (Karen), and Joel (Jan)—ten grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. He was their North Star.
A man of quiet faith, he biked to work, cherished fishing, and loved traveling.
A twenty-eight-year Air Force career saw him rise to Colonel, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross, Legion of Merit, and Air Medal with fourteen oak leaf clusters—a hero without ego.
He taught Air Force JROTC in Saint Louis and Mesa. A Harrisburg High School graduate, he earned degrees from Southern Illinois University, Saint Mary’s University in Texas, and completed Air War College.
A private memorial will be arranged later. He rode ahead; we’ll catch up.
In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Gold Canyon United Methodist Church memorial fund are appreciated.
Gold Canyon United Methodist Church
In Memory of John Kenneth Berry
6640 Kings Ranch Road.
Gold Canyon, AZ 85219
Arrangements by Bunker’s University Chapel, www.bunkerfuneral.com. Should this obituary appear anywhere but bunkerfuneral.com, please check our website for accurate details and service information.
3 comments
Colette and David Bos
We loved and respected this man. He and Myra were a big part of our lives as we grew in our faith and raised our children in the Gold Canyon church community. Love to Myra and family.
Nancy Virden
What a well written obit. You definitely captured John! John and Myra were two of the first people I met in 1994 when I moved to Apache Junction (later called Gold Canyon). They lived about a block away and we attended the same church. They invited me with my daughter over for our first Thanksgiving and even made the time later until we got off work. Since I also was from Southern Illinois, I found out we attended the same music festivals in Carbondale as high school students, but didn’t meet then. Also found out that John’s football coach in Harrisburg was Ralph Davison, my parents’ closest friend. Or was it basketball? John had a beautiful voice and I accompanied him as he sang many solos at church. One duet with Joel Hurley was outstanding. John and Myra were special special friends. I’m so glad I got to visit with John a bit this last year. One of my favorite songs: “Just think of stepping on shore and finding it heaven. Of touching a hand and finding it God’s. Of breathing new air and finding it celestial. Of waking up in glory and finding it home!” So glad I got to know ya1
Myrna L Eshelman
Very loving, tender obituary for John. Love the photo you picked of him. Love the last line: he rode ahead, but we’ll catch up. Indeed we will.