Houlton, Charles Bruce 1919-2014

HOULTON, THOMAS, JOHNSON

Posted By: Wilmla J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 2/16/2014 at 18:54:41

Obituary: Ireton, Iowa- Charles Bruce Houlton, Jr., 94, of Ireton, died Thursday, February 6, 2014 at the Hillcrest Health Care Services in Hawarden.

Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at the Ireton United Methodist Church with Rev. Barb Joy officiating. Burial will follow in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, with the family present beginning at 3:00 p.m. and a prayer service at 5:00 p.m. at the Ireton United Methodist Church. The Porter Funeral Home in Ireton is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com. The family prefers memorials be given to the Ireton United Methodist Church

Charles Bruce Houlton, Jr. was born July 4, 1919 to Charles B. Houlton, Sr. and Flossie Mae (Thomas) Houlton, on the farm in the house in which he lived until 1979, northeast of Ireton, Iowa. He graduated from Ireton High School in 1937. He married Helen L. Johnson on August 25, 1940 in Ireton. Together they farmed northeast of Ireton. Charles sold seed corn for over 30 years. Helen passed away on July 2, 2012, after nearly 72 years of marriage to Charles.

Charles was very active at the United Methodist Church as well as participating in the Goodwill Shoe and Mitten Project at Christmas. He was an avid fan of West Sioux Athletics and a great singer. He served on many Ag related boards, community boards and committees, and also the Ireton School Board and school committees.

Survivors include two sons, Bruce and wife Janet of Earlville, Iowa and Doug and wife Sue of Ireton; two sons-in-law, Donald Eisma of Prior Lake, Minnesota and Chuck Skogman of Ireton; sister, Marjorie Johnson of Ireton; 11 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and 4 great-great-grandchildren; and many nephews and nieces.

Charles was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Helen: daughters, Kay Eisma and Elaine Skogman; grandson, Todd Eisma; six sisters, Mae Poll Riter, Ila Vander Hamm, Helen Lemke, Fern Eilts, Lois Rose, and Neva Brown; and ten brothers-in-law.