Ronald Berkey

1929 - 2014

Ronald R. Berkey, 85, of Bedford, NH, died November 15, 2014, after a period of declining health.

Born in Windber, Pennsylvania, on May 20, 1929, he was the son of Russell M. and Fannie E. (Barnhart) Berkey.

Ronald studied at the Susquehanna University Conservatory of Music. He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Park College and a masters degree in business administration from Syracuse University.

He served with the United States Army. After twenty-two years of service to his country, he retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel. In his final assignment, he worked at the office of the chief of staff of the United States Army at the Pentagon. His decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Commendation Medal for Valor with Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star, and numerous service medals. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Parachute Badge, and Ranger Tab.

He was vice president of United Brands. Later, he was chief financial officer of several corporations.

Ronald served as organist and director of music for a number of Roman Catholic and Lutheran parishes. He enjoyed playing piano with Rainbow Theater for several years. Most recently, he and his dear friend, Edna Dubbery, enjoyed playing piano duets for sing-a-long evenings at his home.

In 2012, he was dubbed Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

He was predeceased by his first wife of twenty-six years, Irene K. (Braun) Berkey in 1978. He was also predeceased by his brother, Dean.

Family members include his wife of thirty-five years, Marilynn (Hardt) Berkey; two sons, Richard Soutscheck and his wife, Hannelore, of Munich, Germany and Robert Berkey and his wife, Teresa, of West Boylston, MA; a daughter, Constance Beliveau and her husband, Paul, of Essex Junction, VT; eleven grandchildren, Erika Berkey and her husband, Klaus, Nina Soutscheck, Michael Berkey, Alexander Soutscheck, Stephan Soutscheck, Robin Agurkis and her husband, David, Steven Berkey, Annie Beliveau, Evelyn Beliveau, Arthur Beliveau, and Jessica Beliveau; two great-grandchildren, Hunter Zhang and Mitchell Agurkis; his brother, Dennis Berkey and his wife, Marilyn, of Windber, PA; his sister, Nancy Williams of New Windsor, MD; his sister-in-law, Karin Braun of Munich, Germany; daughter-in-law, Christina Keller of Grobenzell, Germany; many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews.

Services: Calling hours are Friday from 4 to 8 PM at the Connor-Healy Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 537 Union Street, corner of Concord Street, Manchester, NH.

The funeral will be held Saturday at 1PM with a mass of Christian burial to be celebrated in Saint Joseph Cathedral, Pine Street, Manchester, NH.

Burial will take place in Woodlawn Cemetery, Nashua, NH.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Saint Joseph Cathedral Music Ministry, 145 Lowell Street. Manchester, NH 03104.