Monroe, Bernold Gene 'Barney' 1924-2007

MONROE, LAND, HARNACK, CARLSON, HANDEL, ORINA, DOWD, GORDANIER, HEINS, SCHISSEL, HEMESATH, MCCULLOK, KELLER

Posted By: Carol Harris Remmen (email)
Date: 9/29/2007 at 13:14:30

Funeral Services for Bernold Monroe
Visitation - Wednesday September 19, 2007 Schutte Funeral Home, Postville, Iowa 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Graveside Service Thursday, September 20, 2007 11:00 a.m. Pleasant View Cemetery - Castalia, Iowa

Bernold Gene Monroe was born February 8, 1924 in Castalia, Iowa, the second son of Albert Clark and Mari (Land) Monroe. He was one of ten children, his siblings in order of birth: Alvin, Curtis, Virgil, Bernita, Carroll, Forrest, Fielden (Fritz), Rose and Marlene.

He attended the Castalia school graduating from eighth grade. For some time after his grandmother Tillie Monroe passed away he lived with his grandfather Franklin Monroe.

With World War II already in progress when he turned 18 in 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. His basic training was done at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois. He was sent on convoy duty in the North Atlantic, European, African, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean areas. He saw service in the invasion of Sicily, Naples, Italy, Algiers and was at the Anzio beachhead for twelve days. Other places his tour of duty took him were Oran, Bone and Bizrte, North Africa, Gibraltar, Iceland, Greenland, United Kingdom and France.

During his service years he received two citations for bravery; one for gallant conduct on the SS Gray Lag and the other a bronze star for service as a member of the Armed Guard on the SS Zebulon Pike. Having served with the U.S. Naval Armed Guard for over three years he was discharged on October 16, 1945 with the rank of Gunners Mate 2/C.

He met his wife to be, Marjorie Harnack, at the bowling alley in Postville. They corresponded during the time he was in the Navy. Home on a short leave in 1945 they were married at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville on a snowy spring day April 26.

When Barney returned home from the war they began farming north of Castalia. After several moves to farms around Postville, Monona and Ossian they purchased their own farm just south of Luana in 1959.

Even after they retired to Postville Barney still helped David with the farm work for many years. Marge always had a big garden on the farm. When she wasn't able to do it any more Barney planted the garden in Postville. In fact, just this spring after moving to Garden View Center in Monona he planted potatoes, corn, kohlrabi and marigolds in the garden boxes provided for the residents.

Barney and Marge are the parents of three children; Donna (John) Carlson, David (Linda) Monroe and Dana Monroe (special friend Don Handel). They have seven grandchildren; Carrie Carlson, Anca (Dennis) Orina, Anne, Amy and Kate Monroe and Morgan and Summer Handel.

Barney was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).
Barney passed away Sunday, September 16, 2007 at the age of 83 years, 7 months and 8 days in the Good Samaritan Center at Postville, Iowa. Preceding him in death are his wife Marjorie, his parents, three brothers and one sister.

Source: Schutte Funeral Home, Postville, Iowa

Bernold's grandparents were Franklin & Mathilda (Tillie) S. Dowd Monroe and John Monroe & Rose Gordanier Land. His sisters Bernita (Mrs. Glen E. Heins) Marlene (Mrs. Robert Schissell) Rose (Mrs. Ben Hemesath, Mrs. Mack C. McCullok, Mrs. Keller)