Jan R. Berry, age 76, of Dalton, NE passed away in Kearney on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Cremation has taken place and no public memorial services are planned at this time. In lieu of public services or flowers, the family would like to honor Jan’s appreciation of simplicity and community with memorials being sent to the Dalton Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 104, Dalton, NE 69131.

Friends may stop by the Gehrig-Stitt Chapel to leave their condolences for the family.

You may view Jan’s Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at www.gehrigstittchapel.com.

Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC is in charge of Jan’s care and funeral arrangements.

Jan Richard Berry passed away peacefully on June 14th, 2025, in Kearney, NE, with his daughters by his side. Jan was born on January 11 during the Blizzard of ‘49 to Cliff and Estyl (Jobe) Berry. He attended elementary school in a three-room schoolhouse very near his home in rural Dalton and graduated high school as a Gurley High Pirate in 1967.

After attending Wesleyan University in Lincoln, Jan returned to the Gurley-Dalton area to manage his father’s farm. He continued his trade in agriculture during his later years with landscaping, construction, and handiwork for many residents in the area. Jan deeply loved his family and home, was devoted to his daughters and grandchildren, and cherished simple pleasures, like drinking a cold CocaCola on his pickup tailgate after mowing or watching a summer storm build over the wheatfields. He decorated his house with Christmas lights every holiday season, taking care that they could be seen by his neighbors for miles.

Jan is cherished and will be missed by his two daughters, Jaime (Joe) Blanke of Hastings, NE and Julie (Keith) Friederich of Council Bluffs, IA; his sister, Karen (John) Windhusen; five grandchildren, Cole (Savannah) Blanke, Shae Blanke, and Lola, Mina, and Ari Friederich; two nieces and three great-nephews.

Jan is preceded in death by his father and mother.