Richard "Dick" Berns
Richard “Dick” Berns, 81, of Postville passed away peacefully July 3, 2025 after a brief illness. Visitation will be Tuesday, July 8 from 3-7 p.m. at St. Bridget Catholic Church, Postville. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 9 at St. Bridget Catholic Church with Rev. Martin Coolidge as the Celebrant. Burial will follow at Smith Cemetery, Postville with Military Rites.
Born June 17, 1944, to Leo and Lucille (Koerperick) Berns, Dick spent his entire life doing what he loved, farming with his family. Dick graduated from Postville High School in 1962 and shortly after was drafted into the U.S. Army where he served in Panama from 1964-1967. Upon returning from the service, Dick farmed with his dad and two brothers, Gene and Chuck, as Leo Berns & Sons. Additionally, Dick helped run a Vermeer Equipment business off the farm for 30-plus years, selling and servicing many balers in northeast Iowa.
Up until nearly his last day, he was still farming with Chuck and his son-in-law, Cory, fixing fence, baling first-cutting hay, and feeding cattle. He took great pride in his cattle rations and often referred to his herd as being “spoiled.” A particularly proud moment for Dick was winning the Super Bull contest at the Iowa State Fair in 2013.
When he took time away from the farm, he enjoyed several different activities. He was a former member of the Upper Iowa Saddle Club where he enjoyed riding horses throughout the trails of northeast Iowa. He also enjoyed playing softball in the local softball leagues in his younger years. Dick enjoyed attending Postville and Waukon sporting events, going to tractor pulls, attending the Draft Horse show in Britt, and especially all the time hunting and fishing with his family.
Dick offered his time and talents to several boards as well. He proudly served on the Postville School Board for several years as well as St. Bridget’s Catholic Church Council. Along with several other area farmers, Dick helped establish the Upper Iowa Coop in 1989. He also served on the Allamakee County Fair Board where he worked tirelessly to give back to the youth of the county.
He was a member of the American Legion Arthur F. Brandt Post 518, where he served as the local adjutant and county commander this past year. Marching in the color guard for parades and putting up the American flag at Postville High School home football games were sources of pride for him. Dick was a life-long blood donor and had donated several gallons of his O-negative blood.
Dick married Cindy (Kerr) September 19, 1981, and they had three children: Brad, Stacy, and Becky. This past September, Dick and Cindy were able to spend a week enjoying Niagara Falls together. Any time spent with the kids and granddaughters was time he truly cherished. Together they spent time hunting, fishing, gopher trapping, playing Sudoku, playing backyard softball, playing cards, and laughing ‘til they cried. He loved getting pampered by his granddaughters and talking shop with Cory and Zach.
Dick is survived by his wife, Cindy; his daughters and sons-in-law, Stacy and Cory Miner, and Becky and Zach Steffans; his granddaughters, Regan, Dylan, Karsyn and Maren Miner; his daughter-in-law, Bridget; his mother-in-law, Verta Kerr; his sisters, Bobbi Smrcina, Ann (Mert) Heisler, and Mary (Jerry) Gramlich; his brothers, Bob (Kay) Berns, and Chuck Berns; his sister-in-law, Nancy Berns; and several in-laws, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Dick is preceded in death by his son, Brad, in 2014; his parents, Leo and Lucille Berns; his father-in-law, C. Keith Kerr; his brother, Gene; his brother-in-law, Bob Smrcina; and his niece, Valerie Gramlich.
Dick was known for telling stories and passing down his years of wisdom to those who would listen. Anytime it was time to say good-bye to Stacy and Becky, Dick would say, “Be darn careful.” (He actually didn’t use the word darn, but we can’t type that in the paper). We know that he’d want us all to remember that with this good-bye.
Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Postville is helping the family with arrangements.
