Berns, Linda Lee Alcorn

Linda Lee Alcorn Berns, 71, of Waterloo, died Saturday, Aug. 14, 2010 at her home from breast cancer.

She was born August 18, 1938 in West Union, daughter of Leroy and Ruth Saltsgiver Alcorn. She married Michael Joseph Berns November 21, 1954 in the Little Brown Church, Nashua. She was baptized and confirmed at Bethel Presbyterian Church in West Union. She attended West Union Schools and Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa.

Linda worked for State Farm and Northwestern Mutual in Washington, Iowa, as an insurance secretary. She also was an independent business owner from 1969 to present. She was employed with Qwest in Waterloo from 1998 to 2008.

Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Beth (Bob) Johnston of Long Grove, Iowa, and Cathy (Paul) Bemiss of West Union; two sons, Tom (Denise) Berns of Waterloo and David (Laurie) Berns of Arvada, Colo.; 12 grandchildren, Jesse Johnston of Des Moines, Jamey (fiancé Jimmy Skarlis) Johnston of Mason City, Bobby Johnston of Long Grove, Tabetha, Michael, and T. Jay Berns of Waterloo, Rob (fiancé Tiffany Massaro) Bemiss of Brooksville, Fla., Abi (Michael) Hirsch of Loveland, Colo., David (Duasong) Berns of Arvada, Colo., Amanda Reiter, Adam (Jenny) Reiter and Aaron Reiter, all of Waterloo; 13 great-grandchildren, Kain Krizek, Presley, Parker, Zion and Paisley Berns, Dexter Berns, Lila Hirsch, Ethan, Logan, Riley, Carly, and Emersun Reiter, and Zoey Massaro; two sisters, Nancy (Jim) Grimes of West Union and Sharon (Ted) Schnepf of Elgin, Ill.; four brothers-in-law, Ron Koester of Eldorado, John (Janet) Berns of Dubuque, Allen (Rosie) Berns of Winthrop, Bill (Nellie) Berns of Quasqueton; four sisters-in-law, Eileen Alcorn of West Union, Antoinette Kann of Marquette, Anita Schmelzer of Garnavillo and Marilyn Berns of Cedar Rapids.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Arlene Koester; a brother, Lyle Alcorn; and three brothers-in-law, Larry Berns, Loren Kann and Joe Schmelzer.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Bethel Presbyterian Church with inurnment in West Union Cemetery, all in West Union. Public visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service on West Ridgeway in Waterloo. Visitation will continue for one hour before services on Friday at the church in West Union.

Linda loved to travel, play bridge and golf. She was active in Christian Women's Group and was an organ donor. She also supported and participated in two worthy causes, Breast Cancer Awareness and The Walk For Life.

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