Yvette Wright Berner

1928 - 2024

Yvette Wright Berner, 96, formerly of Traer, IA, passed away peacefully in her sleep July 9, 2024, in Excelsior, MN. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.

Yvette Rosemary Wright was born March 13, 1928, in London, England to Owen and Evelyn (Thompson) Wright. She emigrated with her parents to New York in April 1929 and grew up in NY and CT. She graduated from Ridgefield (CT) High School in 1946, and the University of Iowa in 1950 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. After graduation, she worked at the Springfield (MO) Art Museum. In August 1951, she married Raymond Berner, of Rockwell City, IA, in Wilton, CT. After Ray completed his dentistry degree at the University of Iowa in 1952, the couple lived in California and Hawaii (and he in Japan) while Ray served as a dentist in the U.S. Navy. In 1954, they moved to Reinbeck, IA where Ray practiced dentistry. Yvette focused on raising their 5 children and volunteering for various activities to support the community. In 1974, they moved to a house Ray built on a wooded tract in rural Traer. Around this time, Yvette attended the University of Northern Iowa to secure her teaching credentials, and taught art at South Tama and North Tama schools for 12 years, and assisted Ray until his retirement in 1993. The couple made sure to take their children on annual vacations, but also made several memorable trips together to New York, New Orleans, Mexico, the U.K. to trace Yvette's roots and visit family, and to The Netherlands, France, Germany, and Costa Rica. In 2008, they moved to Traer, where they continued to participate in various volunteer and fund-raising activities throughout the community. Yvette became an expert grant writer. They were members of the Cedar Valley Unitarian Universalist Church in Cedar Falls. Three years after Ray's 2015 death, Yvette moved to Trouvaille Memory Care Suites in Excelsior, MN where she received exceptional, compassionate care. Her avocations throughout life were painting, weaving, nature, reading, word/trivia games, and her family. She was an intelligent, kind woman.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband Ray, her parents, and her brother Peter Wright of Santa Paula, CA.

She is survived by her children Paul (Monique) Berner of Haarlem, The Netherlands; Ted (Beth) Berner of Arlington, VA; Sue (Mike) Chihak of Burt, IA; Ellen Berner and Steve Mikunda of Minneapolis, MN; Andrew (Maureen) Berner of Carrboro, NC; eleven grandchildren: Caitlin, Maddy, Alaina, Ian, Allie, Ray, Eliza, Will, Yvette, Max, and Leo; and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials in lieu of flowers: Plant a tree in her honor, or send a gift in her memory to the Traer Public Library Foundation or your local art museum.

Condolences may be mailed to 4712 Vincent Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55410, c/o Ellen Berner.