John William Berney

John William Berney John William Berney, 80, of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, passed away on Christmas Eve after a short illness. John was born on February 8, 1929 in Leigh, Nebraska to Paul and Georgia Berney. He is survived by his loving wife, Dora Asquino Berney; his sister, Georgia Barnhizer; his children, Mike, Stacy, Susie, and Chris; five grandchildren; and his loyal black Lab, "Bo." He was predeceased by his late wife of 45 years, Joan Berney; his brothers, Paul and Tom Berney; and his sisters, Pauline Berney and Regina Markel. John attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and went on to the University of Iowa Medical School earning a medical degree in 1956. He served in the United States Air Force as Flight Surgeon obtaining the rank of Captain and afterwards completed his residency in radiology at the University of Wisconsin ñ Madison. John was a resident of Peoria, Illinois for 32 years before retiring to Hilton Head Island, SC in 1994. In Peoria, he practiced radiology at Methodist Medical Center, serving as the practice group's Chief of Radiology for several years. He and his late wife were members of the Country Club of Peoria and were active in various religious and civic organizations. John was a fiercely devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and brother and was a devout Catholic his entire life regularly attending St. Thomas Parish in Peoria and Holy Family Church in Hilton Head. He loved a great story and a funny joke, but was also known not to suffer lightly a petty rule or foolish restriction. A gifted athlete, John excelled in collegiate sports and enjoyed nothing more than a round of golf with his buddies up until the last weeks of his life. John was an instrument-rated pilot and, later in his life, an avid boater. John and Dora enjoyed annual trips to Florida on their sailboat, "Le Jouet." Throughout his life, he also enjoyed tennis, skiing in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and other endeavors. A Funeral Mass will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church on Hilton Head Island at 10:00am on January 5th, 2009. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made to Hospice Care of the Lowcountry, PO Box 3827, Bluffton, SC, 29910, (www.hospicecarelc.org) The Island Funeral Home and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.