Harry W. Kirmse 1929-2010

KIRMSE, HATZENBUHLER, STREIF, TOUCEY, WILWERT, OETHE, BREITBACH

Posted By: j.n. (email)
Date: 2/16/2010 at 17:59:47

Telegraph Herald
Dubuque, Iowa
Sunday Feb., 14, 2010

Harry W. Kirmse

ASBURY, Iowa -- Harry Wayne Kirmse, 80, of Asbury, died Friday, Feb. 12, 2010, at Heritage Manor.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Feb. 15, at Resurrection Catholic Church, with the Rev. Steve Garner officiating. Burial will be in Resurrection Cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to 7 p.m. today at Hoffmann Schneider & Kitchen Funeral Home, 3860 Asbury Road, where there will be a wake service at 7 p.m.

He was born on Dec. 8, 1929, in Dubuque, son of Harry William and Maude (Hatzenbuhler) Kirmse. He married Marion "Tuddy" Streif on Sept. 24, 1955, at St. Raphael's Cathedral; she preceded him in death on Aug. 19, 2006.

Prior to his retirement in 1991, Mr. Kirmse worked as a transportation engineer (truck driver) for 40 years at the former Burlington Railroad Warehouse and H&W Motor Express in Dubuque. He served as a union steward for teamsters Local 421.

Harry grew up rough and tough on Dubuque's North End. Rumors mention Harry as never having missed a day of school or work. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling and a good game of cards. Harry had an extraordinary gift of gab. When he controlled a TV remote, viewing choices were limited to endless reruns of old westerns and John Wayne movies. Inside Harry's tough exterior, family, friends (and even some strangers) knew of a generous soft spot he had for anyone in need. Harry will be remembered for a long time as a one in a million kind of guy.

Surviving are his five children, Tom Kirmse, of Dubuque, Barb Toucey, of Fayetteville, N.C., Dave (Kris) Kirmse, of Dousman, Wis., Jim (Jane) Kirmse, of Mantorville, Minn., and Dan Kirmse, of Jacksonville, Fla.; 12 grandchildren; a brother, Bob Kirmse, of Rockford, Ill.; five sisters-in-law, Alice Wilwert-Oethe, Sr. Mildred Streif RSM, Arlene (Eddie) Breitbach, Laura Streif and Donna Streif; and a brother-in-law, Darrel Streif.

He also was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law, Ed Streif.

Memorials may be given to Hospice of Dubuque.

Online Condolences may be left for the family at www.hoffmannschneiderfuneral

homes.com.

The family would like to express their sincere thanks to Sr. Mildred Streif, John Fangman and the coffee clutchers at Casey's General Store in Asbury for their friendship and help with Dad in his later years.