In loving memory of

Grace P. Berlin
September 22, 1927 - November 25, 2017

Grace Pauline (Hoyt) Berlin passed away on Saturday, November 25th, 2017 at the age of 90. Grace was born in Mount Etna, Iowa to Jesse and William Hoyt on September 22, 1927. She attended schools around the Corning and Massena areas and graduated from Cumberland in 1945. She obtained a War Emergency Teacher Certificate to begin her 37 year teaching career near Cumberland in the fall of 1945. She continued her education as she was teaching, eventually earning her Bachelor's Degree from Northwest Missouri State University.

Grace married Manzel Berlin at the Methodist Church in Shenandoah, December 25th, 1949. They soon welcomed their first child Joyce, followed by William and Manzel. Always one to open her heart and home, Grace and Manzel became foster parents for nearly 20 years, where they welcomed Jim and Ray Herron and Steven Boydston.

Grace is preceded in death by her parents William Hoyt and Jesse (Steadman) Hoyt, husband Manzel Berlin, son William Berlin, Foster Sons, James and Raymond Herron, and sister Beulah Hoyt Dillon.

Grace is survived by her children Joyce Witzenburg (Robert), and Manzel Owen Berlin (Jennifer L. Sacks), brother-in-law Ray Berlin, foster son Steven Boydston, grandchildren Brenda Coosner (Gil), Jim Daisy (Jana), Jeri Schultz (Jared), Mandy Coyle (Brian), Anna Tamayo (Damian), Penny Foore (Roman), Christine Maas (Gabe), Brian Witzenburg (Karen) and Jon Herron and fourteen great-grandchildren.

We are forever grateful to Ray Berlin who helped to care for Grace after Manzel passed. He opened his home to care for her after two hip surgeries in 2004. He was her brother-in-law, friend, companion, dance partner, and fellow pool shark.

Celebration of life funeral service will be held 2:00 pm, Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at the Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home in Shenandoah.

Visitation with the family will be held from 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm, Wednesday, November 29, 2017 at the Hackett-Livingston Funeral Home in Shenandoah.

Burial will be held at the Essex Cemetery in Essex, Iowa.

Memorials may be directed to the Essex Fire & Rescue or St. Croix Hospice.

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