Grace Berends

Grace Berends, 104, died peacefully at Bickford Cottage in Cedar Falls on Monday, September 29, 2025. She was born in Parkersburg, on March 10, 1921, daughter of John and Hattie (Dreesman) Eckhoff. She attended a one room schoolhouse through 8th grade, then went to work full time on the family farm where she remembered caring for the chickens as one of her responsibilities. Grace was introduced to Peter Berends by mutual friends and the couple married on June 4, 1949, in Parkersburg. After their children were raised, she cleaned houses for some Cedar Falls families.

Grace enjoyed keeping her family history and planning and attending the reunions. She and Peter did a lot of traveling, primarily in the Western U.S. They also liked Sunday visits to family in Greene, Parkersburg and elsewhere, very often with granddaughter, Kim, in tow. Grace loved quilting and had a green thumb, and always had beautiful plants in her home.

Grace was preceded in death by her husband, Peter; children: Marvin, Jerald and Mavis; and siblings, Harlon (Ella) and Mary Ann (Leland). She is survived by her granddaughter, Kim Mays (Matt) and great-grandson, Lance, all of Carol Stream, IL.

Grace's Funeral will be at 11am on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, at Cedar Heights Presbyterian Church with Visitation Tuesday from 4-6:30 pm at Dahl-Van Hove-Schoof Funeral Home. Memorials may be directed to Kim Mays for future designation.