Jesse William Berry

Jesse (Jerry or J.W.) William Berry passed away at 12:28 a.m. on August 28, 2024, at the Marion V.A. Medical Center.  Jesse was born on January 31, 1933, in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, to Philena Fleming Sanders and Orville Berry.  Jesse was raised by his mother and stepfather, Eugene Fleetwood in Poplar Bluff.

Jesse entered the United States Air Force in 1951 just out of High School.  He served 4 years as an Air Patrol Officer in Puerto Rico during the Korean War.  Upon leaving the military in 1955 he returned to St. Louis, Missouri, where his mother resided.   That is where he met the love of his life, Florance M. (Freeman) Berry in July of 1955.  After a whirlwind romance they united in marriage on December 24, 1955, in his mother’s living room.  At this time Jesse also became a St. Louis, Missouri Police Officer patrolling the 53rd district down on the waterfront.  Two of his favorite stories to tell was about the night he arrested singer Chuck Berry and tangled with wrestler Dick “The Bruiser”.

During his time as a police officer, Jesse studied bookkeeping and tax preparation.  He was an avid reader and was self-taught on many subjects.  Jesse left the police department after 14 years and opened 25 H&R Block offices throughout Southern Illinois.  To many he was known as Mr. Block. Jesse fully moved his family to Marion, Illinois in 1969.  He went on to do income tax preparation and business services after leaving H&R Block in 1980, creating his own company – BUSCO Income Tax & Accounting.  Jesse retired in 2023 after nearly 60 years in business.  Jesse was a very giving and happy person and loved his family dearly.  All his children, grandchildren and some great grandchildren loved his homemade hot cocoa and oatmeal.

Jesse is survived by his wife of over 68 years Florence: his daughter, Patricia (Jack Armstrong), bonus daughter Jo Ann Midgett (Jeff Golbow), his son Michael Berry, daughter in-law Norma Berry, son-in-law Steve Harris, granddaughters Philena (Brad) Hope, Michelle (Chris) Compton, Danielle (Jon) Kluge, Jesse (Shelly) Armstrong, Jessica Berry and Brittanie Berry, Lance (Sarah) Zuckerman, Amanda (Mitch) Voigt and Scott (Maizie) Golbow.   He is also survived by 20 great grandchildren and 9 great-great grandchildren plus nephews and nieces.

Jesse was preceded in death by his stepfather Eugene Fleetwood, mother Philena Flemings Sanders, his eldest son H. Thomas Berry, eldest daughter Pamela (Berry) Harris, grandson William Berry, granddaughter Jamie Berry, granddaughter Dawn (Berry) Gates, and great-grandson Brent Compton.

Visitation will be held at Binkley-Ross Funeral Home located at 1702 West Boulevard Street, Marion, Illinois, on Wednesday, September 4th with family from 2:00 – 4:00 P.M and friends from 4:00 – 6:00 P.M.  The inurnment of his ashes will be held graveside on Friday, September 6, 2024, at 10:00 A.M. at Rose Hill Cemetery in Marion. Those attending the inurnment are asked to meet at the cemetery shortly before 10:00 A.M.

Please visit binkleyross.com to leave online condolences.