Howard Charles Heemstra (1928-2011)

HEEMSTRA, DRULARD, MCGREGOR, KIRCHGASLER, MATTHEWS

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 8/11/2012 at 09:30:07

From Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care obituary, Ames, Story County, Iowa:

Howard Charles Heemstra
December 22, 1928 - July 22, 2011

Howard Charles Heemstra, age 82, died on July 22, 2011 at the Israel Family Hospice House in Ames, IA. Howard was born in Orange City, Iowa on December 22, 1928 to Jacob and Hannah Heemstra. He was a graduate of Northwestern Academy (1946) and Northwestern Junior College (1948) in Orange City and received a Bachelors of Architecture degree from Iowa State University in 1952. He served in the U.S. Army from 1952 - 1954 as part of the Engineer Research and Development Laboratory in Ft. Belvoir, VA. Following his honorable discharge, Howard enrolled at the Cranbrook Academy of Arts in Bloomfield, MI, where he received his Master of Architecture degree in 1958.

For the next 12 years he worked as a registered architect for several firms on projects in South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa. He was most proud of his contributions as project architect of the award winning C. Y. Stephens Auditorium built on the Iowa State University campus in 1969. This building was selected as Iowa's "Building of the Century" in 2004 by the Iowa Chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

In 1966 Howard was asked to join the faculty of the Iowa State University architecture department as an assistant professor and attained the position of full professor in 1976. He was committed to his students and was recognized by the College of Design in 2002 with his selection for the Academic Advising Award. He devoted 37 years to his professional career at Iowa State University and officially retired in 2003 but continued working part-time for several years. Following his retirement he was named "Professor Emeritus".

In addition he was gifted in painting, sketching, sculpting, and was a professional photographer as well. He enjoyed jazz music, movies, reading, and dining out with friends.

Howard was preceded in death by his parents, Hannah and Jacob; brother, Frank; sister-in-law Marion; and sister-in-law Jean. Surviving family members include: brothers, John G. Heemstra, Yankton, SD; Raymond Heemstra (Maxine), Bartlesville, OK; nephews Timothy Heemstra (Linda), Gage, OK; John J. Heemstra (Joan), Mitchell, SD; and nieces Betsy Drulard (Tom) Lakewood, CO; Virginia McGregor, Fountain Hills, AZ; Kristeen Kirchgasler (Mike), Rapid City SD; and Laura Matthews (Stephan), Bedford, TX.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, August 12 at 7:00 pm at the Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care, 414 Lincoln Way, Ames, IA 50010. Burial will take place in West Lawn Cemetery in Orange City IA on Saturday, August 13 at 1:00 pm. Memorials may be sent to the Hannah Heemstra Scholarship at Northwestern College, 101 7th St. SW, Orange City, IA, 51041.

Online condolences may be sent to www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com

http://www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com/
 

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