Carl J. Berkland

Carl John Berkland, 12th of 13 children born to Olai Berkland and Anna Olesen Berkland, was born April 10, 1919 on a farm near Depew, Iowa, and died May 12, 2011 at the Perry Healthcare Center in Perry, Iowa, where he had resided since October. At the time of his death, Carl was 92. Carl attended school at Fenton, Iowa, until he had to leave to help on the family farm. In 1940 he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp where he served during WWII until being honorably discharged in 1945. Carl served in 11 different fighting theatres as a medic and often also as a medic paratrooper. Among the places he saw duty were at the Battle of the Bulge, Normandy Beach, and helped liberate the Nazi prison camps at Auschwitz and Baden Baden. Carl married Evelyn Edith McIalwain on February 24, 1945 in Jackson, Minnesota. They were the parents of four children, Sandra, Dale, Dean, and Shelley. In addition to farming with his family, Carl had farmed in Estherville and Eagle Bend, Minnesota. He later worked for his brother in Fenton, Iowa and in 1963, moved to Perry, Iowa. He helped build Iowa Beef Packers and when it was completed, stayed on to work, retiring in 1982. Even after retiring, Carl stayed busy working for Red Thompson, Harley Weyer, and Pantiers. Carl enjoyed his membership at Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church. He was also a member of the American Legion Post #85 and VFW Post #2060 in Perry, and was a former member of the Moose Lodge. He liked gardening, raising rabbits, watching westerns (John Wayne being a favorite) and refinishing furniture. Carl was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Evelyn Berkland and daughter Shelley Rae Berkland Whelan, and siblings, Arthur, Oscar, Alfred, Reuben, Esther, Ella, Mamie, Ruth, Lloyd, Ervin, Martin, and Donald. Carl will be lovingly missed by his daughter Sandra Berkland of Des Moines, Iowa; sons Dale Berkland and wife Karen of Perry, Iowa; Dean Berkland and wife Pam of Perry, Iowa; grandchildren Mikaela Taylor and husband Matt of Calistoga, California; Kelly Berkland and wife Mitzi of Winterset, Iowa; Shane Berkland and wife Tiffany of Johnston, Iowa; Matthew Berkland and wife Allison of Urbandale, Iowa; Marcus Berkland and wife Chelle of Bozeman, Montana; and Rick Green of Bakersfield, California; two great grandchildren Devon and Marley Taylor; sister-in-law Luella Berkland; many nieces and nephews, other relatives, and many friends. Memorials may be made to his church and can be left for the family at the funeral home.