Agnes Louise Berky

Agnes Louise Berky died peacefully at the age of 101 on September 18, 2026, at the Western Home Communities in Cedar Falls, Iowa, surrounded by many members of her large family. She was predeceased by her husband of over 75 years, Richard (Dick) K. Berky. Agnes was born December 20, 1924, in Pandora Ohio to Lydia Lugibihl Suter and Harry D. Suter. She was their first child and only daughter. She was predeceased by both her parents and three of her brothers, Wilmer Suter, Russell Suter and Gene Suter.

Agnes attended public school in Ohio for grades 1 through 12, learning English in first grade as only Swiss was spoken at home. Life on a farm in the 20’s and 30’s was hard work for the entire family and had few conveniences. Still, Agnes and her brothers found time around the chores to play and grew up happy children. As Agnes turned 17 and the U.S. joined WWII, she tried a brief stint in nurse’s training. She did not find that career to her liking and transferred in the 2nd semester to Bluffton College in Ohio, where she completed her coursework and graduated with a BS in Biology. At Bluffton College she met her future husband, Dick Berky, who had enrolled at the college after his return from duty in the European Theatre of the war. After Dick’s graduation in 1948, the couple were married, embarking on a life together that was to last over 75 years.

Agnes moved many times in her married life as her husband’s post-grad education and subsequent jobs evolved. Her first daughter, Ellen, was born in 1949 in Freeman, North Dakota, followed by a second daughter, Lynette, in 1951 in Lansing, Michigan. Another move took Agnes and family to Lancaster, Pennsylvania where a third daughter, Leslie, was born. In a few more years and after a couple of short stay moves, the family landed in Fort Wayne, Indiana where the fourth and final daughter, Karen, was born.

A big move in 1959 brought Agnes and Dick to Cedar Falls, Iowa, which was to become their permanent residence, albeit with several moves to international locales. She set up housekeeping in the first house they’d ever purchased on Tremont Street, conveniently located across the street from Lincoln Elementary. By 1964, Agnes and Dick had adopted a 4-month-old baby boy, Garth David, and the family was at last complete. Shortly thereafter, an acreage and older farmhouse on West 12th St. was purchased. It was a large, Iowa Prairie style home in desperate need of cleaning and renovation. Agnes was up to the task and in her element, painting and decorating. The rich farmland was perfect for her gardening aspirations, and the outbuildings perfect for chickens and an assortment of other farm animals over the years. The large yard and countryside were a perfect setting to raise her five children. Over the years, the family took many road trips, travelling to the Rockies, the Black Hills and the Great Lakes in the “Scamper.” Agnes even took the children camping to the Johnson’s Shut-Ins in Missouri on her own!

In the early 70’s, Agnes moved to Vienna, Austria where Dick had taken a job with UNIDO, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization. By this time, Agnes’s three oldest daughters were no longer living in the family home, so only the youngest, Karen and Garth, accompanied them to Europe. Here Agnes was able to visit many parts of Europe over the next few years and was able to brush up on her German language skills! Another contract with the United Nations moved her little family to Jakarta, Indonesia, a totally new and different cultural experience for Agnes. A final international move followed a few years later to Alexandria, Egypt. By this time, both Karen and Garth had moved into their own adult lives, so it was Agnes and Dick, alone again after so many years of parenting. Egypt was another cultural revelation to Agnes as she explored the Pyramids, Luxor, the old city of Alexandria and even rode a camel!

After returning to Iowa and resuming her residence on the country acreage, Agnes resumed her gardening and canning activities, continuing well into her mid 80’s. She also spent many delightful hours with her local grandchildren who loved to romp at the farm. Grandma always had something fun for them to do. Agnes enjoyed numerous trips to San Antonio, TX, Tijeras, NM and Bend, Oregon to visit daughters and her other five grandchildren.

In 2012 Agnes and Dick sold the family home and acreage and moved into an independent living apartment with Western Home Communities. Despite numerous and serious health scares in the last 30 years, Agnes always defied the odds and bounced back, continuing to enjoy her extended family, hooking wool rugs, visiting with friends, sewing backpacks for school children, reading extensively, doing jigsaw puzzles and playing weekly games of Scrabble, where she was the undoubted queen.

Agnes lived a long, full and well-travelled life, successfully raising five children while contributing to the life of her church and community as well as positively impacting the lives of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be missed and fondly remembered by all who knew her.

Agnes is survived by her daughters: Ellen Berky of San Antonio, TX; Lynette Voelker (Lyle) of Waterloo; Leslie Ashcraft (Gary) of Tijeras, NM; Karen Berky (Tim) of Bend, Oregon; Garth Berky (Sharon) of Cedar Falls, Iowa; and brother, Richard Suter (Nancy) of St. Charles, MO.

Agnes had 9 grandchildren: Ellen’s son Christian Fernandez; Leslie’s sons Berky Ashcraft and Brian Ashcraft; Karen’s daughter Foley Galvin and son Conor Galvin; Garth’s daughters Kayla Berky, Brandy Berky and Stephanie Berky Markey and son Dakota Berky. Agnes had 10 great-grandchildren with one more only a couple weeks from arrival.

The family is thankful to all of Agnes’s caregivers, which were many in recent weeks and to hospice nurses that were so good and kind when Agnes needed them. All the family is especially grateful to Agnes’ daughter-in-law Sharon Berky and Agnes’ granddaughters whose loving and calm presence in the final days were so helpful in a difficult time.

Her ashes as well as those of her husband Dick’s will be interred/scattered at a future date. To all who remember Agnes fondly, a gift in her honor may be made to the Mennonite Central Committee at Give.org or Habitat for Humanity or Western Home Communities.