Raymond Claude Berner of Traer, Iowa, died at the age of 86 at his home on Friday, May 22, 2015.

Ray was born August 27, 1928, in Rockwell City, Iowa, to Harold and Viva (Owen) Berner. Ray grew up in Rockwell City and graduated from Rockwell City High School. After two years in pre-dental studies at Wartburg College, he attended the College of Dentistry at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, where he received his DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) in June 1952. While at Iowa he met Yvette Wright and they were married in Wilton, Connecticut, on August 23, 1951. He served in the US Navy from 1952 to 1954 attached to the 3rd Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California and Camp Fuji, Japan. Upon his honorable discharge Ray opened his dental practice in Reinbeck and practiced there until his retirement in 1993. The couple made their home in Reinbeck until 1974 when they moved to a house Ray built in a wooded area west of Traer. In 2007 they moved to Traer.

He was an avid musician, skilled woodworker and prize-winning photographer. He established the Wilson Nature Preserve in Traer and was involved in the renovation and expansion of the Traer Public Library. He was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Cedar Falls.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters. Ray is survived by his wife Yvette of Traer; three sons, Paul Berner of Haarlem, The Netherlands, Ted Berner of Arlington, Virginia, and Andy Berner of Carrboro, North Carolina; two daughters, Sue Chihak of Burt, Iowa, and Ellen Berner of Minneapolis, Minnesota; a brother; a sister; eleven grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Condolences may be left at the website www.overtonservice.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Traer Public Library in his name.

Raymond C. Berner, 86

Raymond Claude Berner of Traer, Iowa, died at the age of 86 at his home on Friday, May 22, 2015.

Ray was born August 27, 1928, in Rockwell City, Iowa, to Harold and Viva (Owen) Berner. Ray grew up in Rockwell City and graduated from Rockwell City High School. After two years in pre-dental studies at Wartburg College, he attended the College of Dentistry at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, where he received his DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) in June 1952. While at Iowa he met Yvette Wright and they were married in Wilton, Connecticut, on August 23, 1951. He served in the US Navy from 1952 to 1954 attached to the 3rd Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California and Camp Fuji, Japan. Upon his honorable discharge Ray opened his dental practice in Reinbeck and practiced there until his retirement in 1993. The couple made their home in Reinbeck until 1974 when they moved to a house Ray built in a wooded area west of Traer. In 2007 they moved to Traer.

He was an avid musician, skilled woodworker and prize-winning photographer. He established the Wilson Nature Preserve in Traer and was involved in the renovation and expansion of the Traer Public Library. He was a member of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Cedar Falls.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters. Ray is survived by his wife Yvette of Traer; three sons, Paul Berner of Haarlem, The Netherlands, Ted Berner of Arlington, Virginia, and Andy Berner of Carrboro, North Carolina; two daughters, Sue Chihak of Burt, Iowa, and Ellen Berner of Minneapolis, Minnesota; a brother; a sister; eleven grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Condolences may be left at the website www.overtonservice.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Traer Public Library in his name.