Grace C Beronich

Grace Carol Beronich, 94, died Sunday, March 26, in Des Moines, Iowa. She was born July 11, 1922, in Batavia, Ill., to Karl and Anna (Jones) Keppler.

She graduated from Batavia High School in 1941. Later in life she returned to college to earn her certified nursing assistant designation. She worked as a CNA at Sunnyslope and Good Samaritan nursing homes in Ottumwa, Iowa. Earlier in her life she had worked at Campana and Furnus Electric in Batavia, Ill., and ran a turret lathe at All Steel Equipment Co., making steel ammunition casings. Grace embraced many hobbies after retirement, including painting with acrylics, creating beautiful paintings for her family and friends. She also loved quilting and eventually made at least one quilt for each of her grandchildren and several for her great-grandchildren as well. She enjoyed gardening and raising houseplants. She had a beautiful collection of orchids and African violets.

She married Paul Beronich Nov. 15, 1942, in Batavia, Ill. They lived briefly in Wisconsin until Paul was called to serve in World War II. After the war they lived in Batavia, Ill., for more than 20 years. She was active in Fox Valley Girl Scout Council in Illinois as a Scout leader for more than 10 years. In 1967 they purchased a farm in Ottumwa, Iowa, where they raised cattle, hogs, chickens, goats, and crops. Grace was a integral part of the farming operation, taking over the farm for more than a year, as her husband worked out his retirement back in Illinois. They retired to Clinton, Ark., in 1982, but later took to the highway with a fifth-wheel camper. They drove to Alaska and Canada, and lived on the border of Mexico every winter. They later moved back to Iowa, settling in Albia, where they lived until moving to Des Moines.

Grace is survived by her husband of more than 74 years, Paul Beronich; three daughters, Dorothy Throckmorton of Ottumwa, Iowa; Libby (Billy) Solomon of Point Arena, Calif., and Carol (Thomas Henderson) Beronich of Des Moines, Iowa; 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by two grandchildren. Visitation









Thursday, March 30, 2017

5:00 - 7:00pm









Hillview Memorial Gardens

Rosary









Thursday, March 30, 2017

Starts at 7:00pm









Henderson's Highland Park Funeral Home

Mass of Christian Burial









Friday, March 31, 2017

Starts at 10:00am









Henderson's Highland Park Funeral Home