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HAPPEL, Harold C. 1931-2004

HAPPEL, NOLTING, FARRELL, STEEGE, BLOSER, HARVEY

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 11/30/2011 at 21:47:08

Harold C. Happel, 72, of Waterloo, Iowa, died Friday, March 12, 2004, at the Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Lakeland, Florida, from complications of Pulmonary Fibrosis.

He was born on June 29, 1931, in Bremer County, Iowa, near Waverly, the son of Henry C. & Hulda (Nolting) Happel, and he was baptized at St. Paul's Lutheran Church-Artesian.

The family moved to Ft. Morgan, Colorado, where Harold attended 1st through 3rd grades. The family then returned to Iowa and Harold went to live with his cousin's Paul & Elda Michel in Atkins, Iowa, where he graduated from high school in 1949. Harold then moved to Waverly and went to work for his brother, Ervin, at Happel & Hahlweg Excavating. On November 20, 1951, he entered the US Army during the Korean War and served until being wounded. He was hospitalized in Tokyo for a time and then in California. On March 31,1952, he was discharged with a Purple Heart.

He returned to Waverly where he fell in love with Carolyn Harms, and on July 24, 1955, the couple was united in marriage. They made their home in Waverly and Harold continued to work for Ervin. In 1966, Harold, Carolyn and their two children, Diane and Dennis moved to Central City, Iowa, and Harold was a manager for L.C. Howe Co. In 1968, the family moved to Strawberry Point, Iowa, and Harold began his business, Happel Excavating. In 1977 his son, Dennis, joined him in the business, and in 1986, Dennis and his wife Ronda moved to Waverly and developed the branch here. In 1989 they closed the Strawberry Point branch and Harold and Carolyn moved to Waterloo and Harold continued to work with the Waverly branch. In 1997, Harold slowed down and turned the complete business over to Dennis.

Harold was a faithful member of Nazareth Lutheran Church, Cedar Falls, where he sang in the choir. He was a longtime member of the Lion's Club both in Strawberry Point and with the Waterloo Evening Lion's. He was a member of the Amvets, American Legion and VFW in Waverly and was a long time member of the Land Improvement Contractors of America (LICA). Harold loved his God, Country and Community and served all three well. His family was the love force that always kept him going, especially the grandkids and great grandkids. Completing his life was his many friends, especially his and Carolyn's life long friends, Ray and Jo Mehmen of Waverly.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn, of Waterloo; his two children and their spouses, Diane & Bernie Farrell of Lake St. Louis, Missouri; Dennis & Ronda Happel of Waverly; six grandchildren; two great grandchildren; three brothers, Marvin & Liz Happel of Managu, Nicaragua, Ervin & Dorothy Happel of Waverly, Edward Happel of Miami, Florida; two sisters, Wilma Steege of Denver, Delores Steege of Waverly; and by his special cousin, Elda Michel of Cedar Falls, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Arnold; and by two sisters, Berdina Bloser and Vera Harvey.

Celebration of Life Services will be 10:00 am Friday,March 19, 2004, at Nazareth Lutheran Church, Cedar Falls, with burial with Military rites by the Amvets Post #79, Waverly, in the Harlington Cemetery, Waverly. Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday at the Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home, Waverly. Memorials may be directed to the Harold Happel Memorial Fund in care of the family.

[Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home Obituary]


 

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