HARBERTS, Richard D. 1917-2009

HARBERTS, KLASSEN, MEYER

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 5/25/2009 at 21:27:08

Richard D. Harberts age 91 of Sibley, Iowa died Sunday, April 26, 2009 at Country View Manor in Sibley, IA. Funeral service held May 1, 2009 at the First Presbyterian Church in Sibley with burial in the Holman Township Cemetery at Sibley, with military honors by the Buss Johnson Post No. 316, American Legion of Little Rock.

Richard D. Harberts was born September 15, 1917, in rural George, Iowa the son of Jurn and Etta (Klaassen) Harberts. He was united in marriage to Engeline Meyer on July 7, 1939. After marriage he drove truck and then attended welding school. He graduated as a professional welder. He worked as a journeyman in the ship yards in California. He returned to this area to work at Siebring Mfg. Co. until 1944, when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in WWII. After returning from the service they resided in Sibley, Iowa where he started his business in a welding shop. He then bought the blacksmith shop in Sibley. He later patented his own products and manufactured them under the “HEMCO Corp” name. The products were distributed in 15 states. He and Engeline operated the business themselves for many years.

In 1950 he started flying and owned several planes. He was a commercial pilot with several ratings. For 23 years he flew charter flights for different airports and five different corporations. He accumulated 7,000 hours. He piloted his last flight when 80 years old.

Richard and Engeline enjoyed traveling to many different places including Canada, Hawaii, Alaska, Europe and Mexico. He flew his own airplane to Alaska many times. His pastime interests were big game hunting and fishing trips. He enjoyed flying many local fisherman to northern Canada in the 1960’s he made 17 big game hunts in Alaska, Yukon and the N.W. Territories and British Columbia. After most of those hunts Engeline would fly to Alaska and they toured many places of interest between Alaska and Sibley, Iowa. They also drove the Alaskan highway many times starting in 1969. Richard was always happy when he could be with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Surviving are his daughters, Eleanor Ossenfort of Weslaco, Texas and Roberta (Larry) Nattress of Lead, South Dakota. Also is survived by six grandchildren, Nadine (Jerry) Beck of Ft. Collins, Colorado; Nancy (Chris) Booth of Shawnee, Kansas; Blair (Shelley) Nattress of Luverne, Minnesota; Sonya Forbes of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania; Jarod (Melissa) Nattress of Avon, Indiana; Daren Nattress of Deadwood, South Dakota; great grandchildren, Matthew (Jennifer) Beck; Rachel Beck; Nickolas, Jackson and Alison Booth; Brooke and Alyssa Nattress; Jamieson Forbes; Gabrielle and Claire McCloskey and Emma, Jane, Ryan and Noah Nattress; along with sister, Dorothy Krause of Ponca, NE; and many nieces and nephews.

Richard was preceded in death by his wife, Engeline; son-in-law, Lloyd Ossenfort; his parents; two brothers, Clarence; Harm and infant Dick Harberts; four sisters, Gertie Willemssen; Hattie Popkes; Tena Harberts and Marie Bechler; brothers-in-law, Henry Willemssen; Rempt Popkes and Clarence Krause; and sister-in-law, Irene Harberts.

(Jurrens Funeral Home obituary)