Pecks, Hilton F. "Red" 1914-2011

PECKS, REIH, FOLEY

Posted By: Doris Hoffman, Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/25/2017 at 07:12:58

Hilton "Red" Pecks

May 21, 2011

Hilton "Red" Pecks, 97, of Le Mars, Iowa passed away Saturday, May 21, 2011 at Plymouth Manor in Le Mars, Iowa.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at the Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars with Reverend Gary Landsness officiating. Interment with Military Honors provided by the Wasmer American Legion Post #241 will be in Memorial Cemetery. Visitations will be after 4:00 p.m. Monday, May 23, 2011 at the Carlsen Funeral Home in Le Mars followed by a 7:00 p.m. Prayer Service Tuesday evening at the funeral home. Visitations will continue from 9:00 a.m. until service time on Tuesday. Pallbearers will be Dean Grogan, Brad Croff, Nathan Graves, Bill Foley, Jr., Mary Foley-Balvanz, and Doug Balvanz.

Hilton F. Pecks was born April 11, 1914 on the family farm near Brunsville, Iowa to Henry and Flora (Reihl) Pecks. Hilton was better Known as "Red" to his family and friends. Red attended country school near his home. After his schooling, Red helped on the farm and later received training through the Civilian Conservation Corp as a heavy equipment operator. Red was united in marriage to Dorothy Foley on February 13, 1940 at Le Mars, Iowa. Red was drafted into the United States Navy during World War II. He served his country from April 4, 1944 until his honorable discharge on January 28, 1946 on the naval vessel USS Starr. Red returned to Le Mars and worked for Meis Feed and Seed and Plymouth County as an equipment operator. Red spent the majority of his working career as a heavy equipment operator. As an operator he traveled throughout the country working for large contractors building roads and bridges. He continued this until his retirement in 1980. During retirement, Red would still be contacted for special projects. As a young man, Red played semi-professional baseball and enjoyed playing softball for area teams. He enjoyed following the Minnesota Twins and Vikings and cheering for the Hawkeyes. Red also enjoyed playing euchre and pitch.

He will always be remembered as a gentleman with a wonderful and unique sense of humor. Survivors include his 3 children: David Pecks of Appleton, Wisconsin, Carol Graves and her husband Russell of Breckenridge, Minnesota, and Gayle Grogan and her husband Dean of Appleton, Wisconsin; 2 grandchildren, Nathan Graves and Angela Cruff and her husband Brad; 2 great grandchildren, Thomas McAndrew and Samuel Cruff; a brother-in-law, Bill Foley and his wife Lorraine of Le Mars; and several nieces and nephews.

Red was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Flora (Reihl) Pecks; his wife Dorothy on February 18, 2008; a daughter-in-law, Lynn Pecks; 3 sisters, Dorthea Resen, Wilma McKittrick, and Rose Pecks.

Carlsen Funeral Home
Le Mars, Iowa