Harms, Willis H. "Bill" 1923-2002

HARMS, GRAU, EILKS

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, Volunteer (email)
Date: 8/11/2008 at 14:56:05

Willis H. "Bill" Harms, 78, of Sioux City died Monday, March 25, 2002, at a Sioux City hospital following a brief illness.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church in Sioux City, with the Rev. Donald Cameron officiating. The Veterans of Foreign Wars Sergeant Floyd Post 1973 in Sioux City will conduct military rites. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, with a Masonic service at 7 p.m. conducted by Tyrian Lodge 508 A.F. & A.M. of Sioux City, all at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel.

Mr. Harms was born Dec. 5, 1923, in Brunsville, Iowa, to Herman J. and Lillian (Grau) Harms. He attended elementary school in Brunsville. He graduated from high school at Le Mars (Iowa) High School in 1941. He graduated from Westmar College in 1950. He also graduated from the University of Wisconsin School of Banking in 1958.

He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in February 1942. He served in three major operations in the Pacific, from Guadalcanal, Tarawa and Iwo Jima. He received field commission on Iwo Jima. He was honorably discharged in February 1946.

He married Joyce E. Eilks on Nov. 18, 1947, in Le Mars, Iowa. She died Feb. 15, 2002, in Sioux City.

From 1941 to 1942, Bill worked at Farmers State Bank in Merrill, Iowa. In 1946, he worked for Le Mars Savings Bank. In 1950, he worked for Sioux City Brick and Tile Company. from 1950 to 1952, he worked for Wiltgen Construction Company in Le Mars. He returned to banking in November 1952, working for Woodbury Bank and Trust until 1963. From 1963 to 1975, he worked for First National Bank in Sioux City. In 1975, he retired from banking. From 1976 to 1983, he and his wife were owners and operators of Midtown Music and Amusement Co. in Sioux City. From 1984 to 1996, he and his wife managed the Clifton Apartments in Sioux City.

He was an active 50-year member of First Presbyterian Church of Sioux City, Plymouth, Le Mars and Lake Park, Iowa.

He was a 50-year member of Order of the Eastern Star Rose Croix Chapter 400, a 50-year member of Tyrian Lodge 508 A.F. & A.M., a 50-year member of Abu Bekr Shrine, participating in the White Horse Patrol and Foot Patrol. He was a member of the Scottish Rite Bodies. He was a former president and Iowa governor for the Sertoma Club. He served on the Sioux City Chamber of Commerce. He was a former board member of Gordon Recovery Center, St. Luke's Regional Medical Center and American Red Cross. He was also a former director of the War Eagle Advisory Board and Multiple Sclerosis.

Survivors include a daughter and her husband, Patricia and Rory Kelly of Sioux City; a son and his wife, Mark and Susan Harms of Hartley, Iowa; two sisters, Wilma Lehnhoff of Milford, Iowa, and Genevieve Schultz of Cabazon, Calif.; and his grandchildren, Chad Newell, Tiffany Janssen and her husband, David, and Parker and Preston Harms.

Along with his wife, he was also preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Gloria Lynn Harms; a son, Charles Jay Harms; and a sister, Mildred Groetken.

~Source: The Sioux City Journal, Mar. 28, 2002--part of the D. Easton Obituary Collection