Ramona Berens

Ramona Magdalena (Mahlberg) Berens was born on September 15, 1928, to Henry and Josephine (Klein) Mahlberg near Earling, Iowa. She attended school in Dunlap and graduated from St. Joseph Catholic School in 1947. On January 23, 1950, Ramona married Leo Laverne Berens at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Dunlap. The couple farmed for many years in the Dunlap area. They also owned the Shamrock Inn and built the first mini-mart in Dunlap. Additionally, they owned and operated the Round-Up in Woodbine and Ramona also was a donut baker for the Casey's store. The couple enjoyed the Okoboji area and in 1988 they moved there. They owned and operated the Country Club Pub and the New, Used & Abused Store. Leo died January 26, 1995.

Ramona was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Dunlap. She enjoyed gardening, baking, knitting and crocheting. She also enjoyed ceramics, dancing, and listening to the scanner to keep up on what was happening. Wherever Ramona lived, she planted cherry trees.

Ramona died on Tuesday, March 3, 2015, at the Dunlap Nursing & Rehab Center at the age of 86 years, five months, and 16 days.

Ramona was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Leo; son, William Berens on June 26, 2011; and all eight of her siblings, Roman, Delmar, Bill, Henry and Jack Mahlberg, Eileen McGinn Hanson, Clothilda Lyman and Gertrude O'Day. She is survived by her two children, Robert (Francie) Berens of Omaha, Nebraska, Debbie (Bill Stageman) Hrabik of Omaha, Nebraska; five grandchildren; four great grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Norine Mahlberg of Panama, Iowa and Virginia Mahlberg of Omaha, Nebraska; and many other relatives and friends.