Max Berry

UPDATED SERVICE INFORMATION: Max David Berry, 74, passed away April 9, 2021, at his home in Winnebago, IL. Max was born October 12, 1946, in Paris, IL. Max is survived by his two daughters; Vanessa Bishop of Burlington, WI and Erica Berry of Eugene, OR; His siblings Maranna Oakley of Charleston, IL, John H. Leonard III of Paris, IL and Tom (Tammy) Leonard of Mattoon, IL: grandchildren; Ava Bishop, Ana Bishop, Ella Bishop, and Orin Noffsinger, all of Burlington Wisconsin; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother Teal Leonard (Cunningham) of Ashmore, IL and father John H Leonard, Jr. of Charleston, IL.  Max grew up in southern Illinois and volunteered for the Navy in 1964, serving in Vietnam for many years as a Radarman. He also sang tenor in the Navy’s Blue Jacket Choir.
He has called Winnebago, IL his home for the last 42 years. Max was a lifelong learner and strong advocate of education. He dedicated his professional life to working with and educating youth, serving at Byron Middle School as a social studies teacher and school counselor, and spent a few summers working at a camp for special needs kids.   Max had a myriad of interests, but especially enjoyed golfing, playing pool, hanging out with his friends, listening to music and going on fishing trips with his buddies in Canada. He was a voracious reader of books with an unmatched knowledge of history, philosophy, science, and politics. He loved engaging in debate with friends and giving impromptu (unsolicited) history lessons (lectures) to his children and grandchildren. He devoted much of his time after retirement to being with family and friends and took great pleasure in teaching his grandchildren to fish. His true love was travel and he was always willing to explore new places and cultures and sought to make friends wherever he went. Max was a unique soul, genuine, decidedly unconventional, and unafraid to show his true self. His antics will be the fodder of the many, many stories his loved ones will be telling for years to come.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Sunday, October 10th at Roc's Blackfront Tavern & Grill in Charleston, IL from 4-6pm. Stateline Cremations is assisting the family, 712 Windsor Rd., Loves Park, IL www.statelinecremations.com