AMES, Harold "Skip" George

AMES, JORGENSON, PLANTZ, PAPOUCHIS, ZURANSKI

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 6/4/2013 at 00:28:01

Harold "Skip" George Ames, 69, 414 E. Lake St., Apt #2, Ventura, Iowa, died
Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003, at Mercy Medical Center East Campus, Mason City, Iowa.
A memorial service was held Saturday, Aug. 23, at Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel
with the Rev. Chaplain Rosie Schlueter officiating. Military Honors were
provided by Mason City Veterans Memorial Association. Memorials may be given to
Ronald McDonald House of Iowa City, Opportunity Village, Hospice of North Iowa,
or your favorite charity is his name.

Harold "Skip" was born March 16, 1934, in Austin, Minn., the son of Harold S.
and Ruth (Jorgenson) Ames. He graduated from Austin High School. He enlisted in
the Air Force in November 1952 in Austin and served in the Korean War. Right out
of the service he worked for Gamble-Robinson Wholesale Fruit and Vegetables as a
salesman. He opened Skip and Dave's Skelly in Austin. Skip married Bonita A.
Plantz on Aug. 9, 1958 in Brownsdale, Minn. They moved to Mason City where he
sold Bowes Sealfast products, then operated Skip's Shell Service Station, Mason
City, for 16 years. He then worked for DFS in Charles City, Iowa, until
retirement in 1996. He was on the Board of Directors for the Mason City chapter
of NAMIAMI.

Skip was a worker and volunteer helping with the Clear Lake Chamber Trolley,
Clear Lake School Bus, St. Patrick's Catholic Church Bus and Boehnke Escort
Service. He was a member of the River City Rugby Club. He was also a member of
the Mason City V.F.W., National Rifle Association, the American Fishing Club and
St. Patrick's Catholic Church. He followed the modified stock car racing circuit
in North Iowa area in the 60's.

Skip loved joking with his granddaughters and would never quit teasing. He was
always there to help his family and friends. Skip enjoyed all the people at
Opportunity Village and Andrews Concrete when driving escort for them. Skip and
his wife enjoyed delivering the St. Patrick's auction pamphlets to the
surrounding Clear Lake towns.

Harold "Skip" is survived by his wife of 45 years, Bonita (Bonnie) Ames,
Ventura; three children, Ann M. Papouchis and her husband, Bill, Mason City, Dan
G. Ames, Mason City, and Dr. Janel Zuranski, DVM and her husband, Bob, Aurora,
Ill.; grandchildren Alexis, Samantha and Melissa Papouchis and Rachel and Mike
Zuranski; two brothers, Robert A. Ames, N. Hollywood, Calif. and Jerry D. Ames
and his wife, Vicki, Austin, Minn.; his dog and very special friend, Piksy.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents and one granddaughter, Laura
Papouchis in 1997.