Raymond Earl Berlin was born on May 15, 1928 on the family farm in rural Essex.  Ray entered into eternal peace on Thursday, August 31, 2023 at his home in Essex.

Ray was the eighth child in a farm family of nine. He grew up with chores and farming responsibilities. The family ran the first threshing machine of the neighborhood. Ray and his siblings all attended Goff Country School through the eighth grade. All nine Berlins graduated from Coburg high school. Ray played basketball and fondly remembered hitting a winning buzzer beater shot. Ray became the third generation owner of the family farm. He built the current home on the farm in 1980, the same year it was honored as a Century farm by the state of Iowa. He was a proud farmer of livestock and crops for over 70 years.

Ray was a member of the Farm Bureau and the National Farmers Organization.  He was a member of the Methodist church and in his younger days enjoyed attending young adult groups of church, where they would go on skating outings, plays, and music shows. Ray maintained social activities including going dancing in the area communities throughout his 80's. His life was built on a foundation of faith and farming, and was well thought of by all who knew him.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Leta, brothers, Melvin (Blanche), Robert (Marjorie), Manzel (Grace), and Kenneth (Irene) Berlin; and sisters Hazel (Lloyd) Lorimer, Vera (Orville) Williamson, Daisy (Floyd) George and Clara (Allen) Holmes.  Ray was very fond of his 26 nieces and nephews whom he welcomed at family reunions on the family farm.

Memorials may be directed to Essex Fire and Rescue, Porters Lake Skating Rink, or  the Shenandoah United Methodist Church.