Ernest L. Balvanz

BALVANZ, ASWEGAN, ZWANZIGER, STENSLAND, SPIER, KRAMER, MARTIN

Posted By: dbeier (email)
Date: 7/21/2010 at 20:38:51

Ernest L. “Ernie” Balvanz, 75, of Shell Rock, Iowa, died Thursday morning, November 30, 2006, at Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo following a lengthy illness.

Ernie was born on August 2, 1931, in Alden, Iowa, the son of Martin C. and Tillie M. (Aswegan) Balvanz.

Ernie attended school in Shell Rock, receiving his G.E.D. while serving in the U.S. Navy. On March 20, 1952, Ernie entered the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict. On March 20, 1954, he was united in marriage to Jean Zwanziger in San Diego, California where Ernie was stationed with the Navy. Ernie was discharged from the service on March 16, 1956, and the couple made their home in Waverly, Iowa, where he drove truck during that summer for Beu & Son’s in Frederika. He then went to work for Deike Implement from 1956 until 1962, Whitney-Juhl Implement from 1962 until 1966 and then worked for John Deere Company (Product Engineering Center) in Waterloo from 1966 until 1997 when he retired as a Mechanical Engineer. Ernie also farmed from 1959 until the present, purchasing his current farm in 1969. Ernie and Jean moved to Shell Rock in 1972, where he continued to work at John Deere and farm.

Ernie was a member of Faith Lutheran Church in Shell Rock and a member of the V.F.W. Post #2208 in Waverly. Ernie had a great love for toy’s, especially scale tractors.

Ernie is survived by his wife, Jean Balvanz of Shell Rock; his six children and their spouses, Deb and Ron Stensland of Shell Rock, Diane and Steve Spier of Sumner, David and Brenda Balvanz of Shell Rock, Denise and Brad Kramer of Waverly, Dennis and Hope Balvanz of Shell Rock and Dawn and Kevin Martin of Waverly; 17 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; and two brothers Louis Balvanz and his wife, Alice of Plainfield, Alvin Balvanz of Fairbank.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Celebration of Life Services will be held on Monday, December 4, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church in Shell Rock, with Pastor Steven D. McGinley officiating.

Burial will be in the Horton Cemetery, rural Waverly.

Public visitation will be held on Sunday from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home in Waverly and also for an hour prior to services on Monday at the church.

Memorials may be directed to the family, where a fund will be established at a later date.