HEARD, Russell "Rex" 1920-2005

HEARD, BOWERS, REECE, ROSE, LANN, JACOBSEN

Posted By: Jeffrey R Phillips (email)
Date: 2/16/2005 at 21:01:36

Russell 'Rex' Heard

August 24, 1920-February 10, 2005

STEAMBOAT ROCK—Russell “Rex” Heard, 84, of Steamboat Rock died from natural causes Thursday, Feb. 10, 2005, at Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames. Funeral services are Monday, Feb. 14, at 1:30 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in Steamboat Rock with the Rev. Bruce Baillie of the First Presbyterian Church in Steamboat Rock officiating. Burial will follow at the Steamboat Rock Cemetery with full military honors provided by Hoover-Eiserman Post No. 542 of the American Legion. Visitation is from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday at the Creps-Abels Funeral Home in Eldora.

Rex was born Aug. 24, 1920, in Tracy, Minn., son of Rowland and Ella (Bowers) Heard. He graduated from Owasa High School in 1940 and on Oct. 26, 1941, he was united in marriage to Bernice A. Reece at his parents’ home in Eldora. Rex entered the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942, serving in the South Pacific during World War II. He was honorably discharged from the Corps in 1945 and he returned to Owasa where he worked for a farmer for several years before farming on his own. In 1955 Rex and Bernice moved to Steamboat Rock where he farmed prior to working as a custodian for the Steamboat Rock school system until the mid-70s. He then worked as a custodian for Ackley-Geneva High School, retiring in 1985.

Rex was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Steamboat Rock where he had served as a trustee; a member of the Pine Lake Saddle Club, serving as president for 40 years; Steamboat Rock Boat Club, serving as president for 33 years; and Hoover-Eiserman Post No. 542 of the American Legion. He was also a former member of the Steamboat Rock Fire Department and served several years on the Steamboat Rock City Council. He was a cowboy and horseman, loved playing golf, and in his younger years played softball.

Surviving is his wife, Bernice; two sons, Michael “Rex” Heard of Steamboat Rock and Stephen and wife Evelyn Heard of St. George, Utah; two daughters, Catherine and husband Jim Rose and Rebecca and husband Steven Lann, all of Steamboat Rock; sister Elizabeth Jacobsen of Windom, Minn.; brother Jim and wife Jane Heard of Steamboat Rock; 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; granddaughter Christa Rose; brothers Raymond, William, Donald, Carroll, Ted and Claude; and sisters Catherine Heard, Joy Huzel, Gladys Mounter and Dolly Stonebraker.