Bell, Howard James 1937-2007
MILLER, BELL, HOUSE, MCGRANAHAN, ROUGHTON, HILL
Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 11/9/2007 at 21:00:42
Howard James Bell
Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. August 29 at Peace United Church of Christ, Elkader, Iowa with interment in the East Side Cemetery, Elkader, Iowa. The Leonard Funeral Home of Elkader was in charge of arrangements.
Retired Iowa Highway Trooper Howard James Bell, 70, of Elkader, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, August 26, 2007, at his residence from cancer. He was born on February 28, 1937, to Robert and Esther (Miller) Bell, and raised in Farley, Iowa. Howard graduated from Farley High School.
Howard began working at the Drivers License Bureau with the State Highway Patrol in 1955. In 1959, he entered the United States Army. Howard entered the Iowa Highway Patrol Academy in 1965 and in 1996, after thirty one years as Patrol Trooper #333, he retired. Following retirement, he worked at the NAPA store in Elkader until the spring of 2007. In his pastime, he enjoyed working on motors, being outdoors, mowing lawns and helping neighbors.
Howard was united in marriage to Berdina (House) Bell on New Years’ Eve of 1960, and they made their first home in Farley. In 1965, he was hired on to the Iowa Highway Patrol and the family moved to Postville, Iowa, moving to Elkader in 1976.
Howard so enjoyed his work as a trooper, and his home contains many reminders of his career, including his State Patrol badge, #333. He prided himself on being fair to everyone and true to the law, which he knew by heart. He retired in 1996, and soon thereafter, believing we should all be “productive human beings”, began work at the NAPA auto parts store in Elkader. Again, he prided himself in being a good employee, going the extra mile, and his strong work ethic shone through even in the beginning of his illness. He reluctantly left his position in May of this year, when he was no longer well enough to work.
He leaves behind his “darling wife of 46 years”, Berdina, Elkader, who took such good care of him through his illness; his daughters, Pamela (Patrick) McGranahan of Madison, WI, and Karla (Ronny) Roughton, of Tulsa, OK and also four grandchildren, Alex and Oliver Hill, and Leah and Stephen Roughton and his best friend, Bubba.
Howard was preceded in death by his mother, Esther (Miller) Bell, his siblings John and Patricia Bell, and a much loved uncle, Walter Miller.
Howard’s life was made so much richer by the blessings of wonderful friends and neighbors, who have enjoyed the benefit of his ability to fix almost anything and his willingness to blow the snow from their driveways for years. These small favors have been paid back in spades throughout his life and especially this summer. Howard took such comfort and joy in the support and encouragement of his friends. His family would also like to extend their tremendous appreciation to these people. We could not have done it without you.
Extracted from the funeral brochure.
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