Wilbur, Harold Ralph --- 1941-1999

SIECK, WILBUR, WERHAN, ALEXANDER, AUSTIN, THORP

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 6/30/2014 at 13:30:11

Decorah, Iowa newspaper, Public Opinion

Harold Ralph Wilbur

Harold Wilbur, 57, of Fayette, died Monday, Sept. 13, 1999, at St. Joseph's Hospital in New Hampton, following a sudden illness.

A funeral mass was held Friday, Sept. 17, at 10 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Fayette. Clergy were the Revs. John Purtell, Richard Kuhn and Dale Rausch.

Leon Dietzencach was the lector. Marge Strudthoff and Doris Boess were the Flower Committee.

Mary Richmond was the organist. Selections included "Be Not Afraid", "On Eagle's Wings" and "Peace Prayer of St. Francis".

Casket bearers were Jeremy Landa, Adam Landa, Jason Landa, Tony Fox, Ben Fox and Josh Fox.

Interment was at the Hawkeye Cemetery. The Becker-Milnes Funeral Home of Fayette handled arrangements.

Harold Ralph Wilbur was born Nov. 29, 1941, at Hawkeye, the son of Austin and Elsie (Sieck) Wilbur.

He attended rural school in the Hawkeye area, Hawkeye Elementary and North Fayette High School, where he graduated as valedictorian in 1959.

On Aug. 29, 1959, he was united in marriage with Mary Werhan at Holy Name Catholic Church in West Union.

Harold received his bachelor's degree from Upper Iowa University in Fayette in 1987 and his master's degree in business from Nova University in Florida in 1989.

From 1959 until 1983, he farmed, and after attending college, he worked for the Internal Revenue Service for one year.

At the time of his death, he was teaching in the business department at Northeast Iowa Community College in Calmar. He coached high school cross country and junior high track at Turkey Valley Community Schools. Harold also worked for Upper Iowa University in their external degree and extended university programs.

Harold enjoyed biking and Hiking with his family, competing in road races, and gardening and working in the yard.

He liked teaching and coaching young people. Harold valued education and was constantly in the pursuit of knowledge. He had the best interest for students at the core of his beliefs and showed genuine love and concern for all he came in contact with.

He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Hawkeye, where he served as Eucharistic minister.

Survivors include his wife, Mary of Fayette; 4 daughters, Theresa (Ronnie) Alexander of Lampasas, Texas, Kristie (Terry) Austin of Postville, Paula Wilbur of Waukon and D'Ann Wilbur of Birmingham, Mich.; 9 grandchildren, Tony, Ben and Josh Fox, Jeremy, Adam and Jason Landa, and Sarah and Katie Austin and Kelli Alexander; his mother, Elsie Wilbur of Hawkeye; one sister, Mary (Ken) Thorp of Sumner; and many nieces and nephews.

Harold was preceded in death by his father.