Phillip Reid Berry

Phillip Reid Berry, 76, of Floyd’s Knobs, Indiana, passed away peacefully on August 26, 2026. He was born on April 4, 1950, in Owensboro, Kentucky, and was preceded in death by his parents, Patrick Berry and Dorothy (Best) Berry, and his brother, Rodney Berry. Phil was a man who loved people. He was personable, generous, creative, had a great sense of humor, and was genuinely interested in the lives of those around him. He had a gift for making people feel welcome and connected, and his relationships and friendships were among the things he valued most. He was a graduate of Western Kentucky University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1972, and was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. Following college, he served in the United States Army Reserve from 1972 to 1978. Phil’s professional life was marked by leadership, international experiences, and service. He began building his career by serving as Managing Executive Director of the Fourth Freedom Forum, a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization founded in Goshen, Indiana, that promotes international cooperation through trade. Phil’s commitment to leadership and service was especially evident through his involvement with the Junior Chamber movement. Junior Chamber International (JCI) is a global organization focused on developing young leaders through service, community involvement, and international exchange. A longtime member of JCI, Phil was the charter president of the Dunlop Jaycees in 1978 and went on to serve as President of the Indiana Jaycees in 1983. In recognition of his leadership, he was named Indiana Jaycee President of the Year and received the Don Cavalli Memorial Award from the United States Junior Chamber in 1984–1985. His Jaycee career eventually took him onto the international stage. Phil served as Worldwide President of JCI from 1986–1987. His presidential mission, “Global Change: A Challenge for Young Leaders,” reflected his belief in the ability of young people to make a meaningful difference in their communities and around the world. He later served as Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee of Junior Chamber International from 1989–1991. As Worldwide President, Phil traveled around the world, meeting people from countless cultures and backgrounds and forming relationships that reflected his lifelong love of people and service. His international leadership earned him JCI’s highest honor, the distinction of JCI Senator. He was also honored with Order of Merit No. 30 of the Republic of China in recognition of his international service and leadership. Following his term as JCI Worldwide President, Phil partnered with former JCI President Genichi “Gary” Nagao to form NBI (Nagao Berry International) an import/export business. He also served for nearly 20 years as President and CEO of Workwell Industries, a nonprofit organization in Louisville, Kentucky, that creates employment opportunities for people with disabilities and others who may experience barriers to employment. He retired from Workwell in May 2021. While Phil accomplished much in his career, those who knew him best will remember him most for the way he loved his family. Phil was married to Linda (Harm) Stampf for 25 years, and together they raised their children, Brooke and Ben. Despite a career that took him around the world, Phil was a father who showed up. He attended his children’s events, supported their interests, advocated for the things that mattered to them, and made creating meaningful memories a priority. For the past 13 years, Phil shared his life with his beloved wife, Laura (Schroerlucke) Berry. Together, they enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren and extended family, as well as dining out, attending concerts, discovering new experiences, attending baseball games, and simply living life to the fullest. Their years together were filled with laughter, companionship, adventure, and a shared appreciation for making the most of every moment. Phil’s love of baseball began in childhood and became a lasting family tradition. He and his brother, Rodney, shared a love for the game and even collaborated on an original children’s baseball book, Benji Goes to Bat, which Rodney wrote and Phil illustrated. The book remains a special piece of their shared creativity and a testament to their bond. In 1990, Phil was instrumental in establishing Goshen Little League as a structured, chartered program in partnership with other local dads, creating an opportunity for his son and his friends to play in competitively sanctioned tournaments. Each year, Phil planned family trips to visit a major league ballpark, combining his love of the game with his desire to create lasting memories. That tradition inspired a love of baseball that continues through his family. Creating experiences for his children extended far beyond baseball. During his time as Worldwide President of JCI, Phil took Brooke and Ben around the world, introducing them to new countries, cultures, people, and perspectives. He believed in experiencing life and wanted his children to experience as much of it as possible. Later, he found that same joy in spending time with his extended family, creating cherished memories through camping trips to Brown County and visits to parks throughout the region. Phil was also a talented artist (Berry Patch Art) with a lifelong appreciation for creativity. He loved art and could often be found shopping for art supplies or dreaming up his next project. His interests were wide-ranging: golf, the Chicago Cubs, Notre Dame football, music, especially his favorite band~Chicago, guitars, board games, building and launching rockets with the boys, good food (especially Old Hickory BBQ and Dot Berry’s Lemon Ice Box Pie), and grilling ‘buttered meat’. He enjoyed the simple pleasures of gathering around a table, sharing a meal, playing games, telling stories, and, of course, telling his jokes. For more than 40 years, Phil and Ben shared a tradition of playing fantasy baseball against each other, and they played in the same Yahoo league since 2010. Phil’s team, the Philsberry Doughboys, produced plenty of friendly trash talk, bragging rights and more often than Phil would probably admit, victories for Ben. Phil is survived by his beloved wife, Laura (Schroerlucke) Berry; his daughter, Brooke (Daniel) Middleton of Richmond, Kentucky; his son, Benjamin (Laura) Berry of Arlington, Texas; his stepson, Justin (Anna) Renfrow of McCordsville, Indiana; and his stepdaughter, Jessica (Steven) Whoberry of Louisville, Kentucky. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren, Georgia Berry, Anderson Berry, Logan Renfrow, and Grace Renfrow; his step-granddaughter, Sarah (Eric) Gale; and his step-great-granddaughter, Evelyn Gale. Phil was much more than a list of accomplishments. He was a husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend, leader, artist, storyteller, and someone who had a remarkable ability to bring people together. He showed up, made things happen, and gave generously of himself. Most of all, he loved his family deeply, and the people who knew him will carry that love, along with countless memories, with them always. Phil was a baptized believer in Jesus Christ, and his faith was at the heart of who he was. His family is comforted by the promise that, through his faith, he is now home with the Lord. They will carry his love, his example, and the memories they shared with him in their hearts always. “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” [1 Corinthians 13:13] In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to donate in Phil’s memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. St. Jude held a special place in Phil’s heart after he had the opportunity to sit beside its founder, Danny Thomas, on an international flight. Their conversation about St. Jude’s mission and the difference it makes in the lives of children and their families touched Phil deeply and spoke to his lifelong commitment to serving others and making a difference in the lives of those around him. Celebration of Life Open House: Saturday, October 3, 2026 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. The Biscuit Lounge Formerly Old 502 Winery 120 S 10th St, Louisville, KY 40202 Open House Live Stream: Facebook ~ Berry Patch Art In lieu of flowers: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Phillip Reid Berry

April 4, 1950 - August 26, 2026