Marianna Stewart Berkley

Marianna Stewart berkley died January 01, 2021 when she was 98 years old. She was the middle of five children born to Harold Stewart and Merle Taylor. Her hometown of Blair, Nebraska had no local bus service and few cars, so people walked everywhere they wanted to go. Marianna grew up following the tracks made by the early morning milk truck to get to school in winter.

While attending the University of Nebraska, Marianna met and married Kenneth Berkley, who was a graduate student from Idaho. It was the time of war, so Berk became a naval aviator. For someone who had never been outside of Nebraska, it was always exciting when orders came to move. As a Navy wife, she enjoyed traveling to many countries and the family was stationed in Morocco and Italy. They bought a Sears and Roebuck tent and together camped at many national Parks in the United States, her family having grown to four daughters and a dog. In later life, Marianna participated in building a house in Mongolia through Habitat for Humanity.

Early, Marianna had become a water baby and learned how to swim by watching the two lifeguards in Blair, fortunate to have a large swimming pool through the WPA. She carried on her love of the water by teaching many children how to swim at the outdoor pool at Oceana naval base for 20 years. In retirement at 72, she joined the Masters Swimmers in Virginia Beach, and her collection of medals won will be passed on to young swimmers in developing countries to encourage future swimmers.

Marianna is survived by her four daughters Donna Berkley in Seattle, Charla Ellis in Louisburg; and Marlene Berkley and Lynn Berkley in Virginia Beach; she has five grandchildren. Her husband died in 2002 and her brother and four sisters are all deceased.

Marianna Berkley's pastor memorial service will be held pending. Condolences can be made to the family through your presence at her service.