Higman, Pearle C. 1914-2005

HIGMAN, JORGENSEN, HANSEN

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 8/26/2008 at 12:38:08

AKRON, Iowa -- Pearle C. Higman, 90, of Akron went to join her Lord Saturday, April 16, 2005, at her residence.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, E.L.C.A. in Akron, with the Rev. Glenn Lundahl officiating. Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery. Visitation will be 2 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m., at Carlsen Funeral Home-Schroeder Funeral Home in Akron.

Pearle Claire Jorgensen Hansen Higman was born Dec. 22, 1914, in a farm near Viborg, S.D., in Turner County, to parents Christian and Matilda (Hansen) Jorgensen. She was their fifth child. Baptized and confirmed into the Lutheran faith in Viborg, she was two years old when her mother died during childbirth. Her great-aunt, Mary and her husband, Ferdinand Hansen raised her in a loving and happy family atmosphere along with their three daughters, Winifred, Martha and Stella.

Attending school in Wakonda, S.D., she graduated in 1932 from high school. She took nurses training and received her register nurses license from Methodist Hospital in Sioux City in 1936. The 13 graduating nurses for a lifetime friendship. She practiced nursing for six years, primarily in Sioux City and the surrounding area, however, she did travel to Oregon for six months along with two fellow nurses and worked in the Oregon area in 1939.

On Aug. 24, 1940, she became the wife of Harold Clute Higman, the son of Mark and Mabel (Austin) Higman. The ceremony took place in Kirksville, Mo. They were married for 64 and one half years. The couple lived near Westfield, Iowa, on Highway 12 for 17 years, then moved in 1959 to their current home one half mile south of Akron, where they farmed and managed a gravel mining business. The couple raised three children, Harold Clute Jr. born in 1944, David Paul born in 1949 and Marianne Ilene born in 1951. Besides helping her husband with his business and running the household, she enjoyed the following clubs throughout her life, Home Culture Club, P.E.O., and W.E.L.C.A. at Immanuel Lutheran Church where the family are members.

She was a loving, honest, gentle wife and mother. She never raised her voice or displayed anger towards anyone, but showed the utmost thoughtfulness and kindness toward others. She lived her life in a quiet peaceful way, intent on not making any enemies. She was a gentle soul. Her hobbies were raising ducks and geese, growing flowers, tending her garden and she was an avid book reader throughout her entire life. She also loved to embroider, cross-stitch, sew and cook for her family.

Her last 15 years were a constant battle against ovarian cancer, heart problems and other miscellaneous health problems. She was however, a fighter and proved her tenacity for living. Because she accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord, assuredly her spirit is now at rest with Him. She will be missed and always her memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.

Survivors include her husband, Harold of Akron; three children, Harold Higman Jr. and his wife, Sue of Akron, David Higman of McCook Lake, S.D., and Marianne and her husband, John Siefer of Sioux Falls, S.D.; seven grandchildren, Justin Higman, Jerad Higman, Joel Higman, Hallie Higman, Tyler Higman, Jeremy Siefer and Joshua Siefer; and three great-grandchildren, Conor Guiltinan, Jayden Higman and Ava Higman.

Pallbearers will be Tyler Higman, Josh Siefer, Jeremy Siefer, Joel Higman, Jerad Higman and Justin Higman.

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