Monroe, Bernold Gene -- 1924 - 2007

LAND, MONROE, HARNACK, CARLSON

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 11/2/2007 at 20:44:44

Bernold "Barney" Monroe

A grave side service for Bernold Monroe was held Thursday, September 20, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. in the Pleasant View Cemetery at Castalia, Iowa, with Military Honors by Allamakee County VFW. Visitation was held at the Schutte Funeral Home in Postville on Wednesday, September 19, 2007 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m.

Bernold Gene Monroe was born February 8, 1924, in Castalia, Iowa, the second son of Albert Clark and Mari (Land) Monroe. He was one of ten children, his siblings in order of birth: Alvin, Curtis, Virgil, Bernita, Forrest, Carroll, Fielden (Fritz), Rose, and Marlene.

He attended the Castalia School, graduating from eighth grade. For some time, after his grandmother Tillie Monroe passed away, he lived with his grandfather, Franklin Monroe.

With World War II already in progress, when he turned 18 in 1942, he enlisted in the U. S. Navy. His basic training was done at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, IL. He was sent on convoy duty in the North Atlantic, European, African, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean areas. He saw service in the invasion of Sicily and Naples, Italy, Algiers and was at the Anzio beachhead for twelve days. Other places his tour of duty took him were Oran, Bone, and Bizrte, North Africa, Gibraltar, Iceland, Greenland, United Kingdom and France. During his service years he received two citations for bravery; one for gallant conduct on the SS Gray Lag and the other, a bronze star for service as a member of the Armed Guard on the SS Zebulon Pike. Having served with the U. S. Naval Armed Guard for over three years, he was discharged on October 16, 1945, with the rank of Gunners Mate 2/C.

He met his wife-to-be, Marjorie Harnack, at the bowling alley in Postville. They corresponded during the time he was in the Navy. Home on a short leave in 1945, they were married at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville on a snowy spring day, April 26.

When Barney returned home from the war, they began farming north of Castalia. After several moves to farms around Postville, Monona and Ossian, they purchased their own farm just south of Luana in 1959.

Even after they retired to Postville, Barney still helped David with the farm work for many years. Marge always had a big garden on the farm. When she wasn't able to do it any more, Barney planted the garden in Postville. In fact, just this spring after moving to Garden View Center in Monona, he planted potatoes, corn, kohlrabi and marigolds in the garden boxes provided for the residents.

Barney and Marge are the parents of three children, Donna (John) Carlson, David (Linda) Monroe and Dana Monroe (special friend, Don Handel). They have seven grandchildren, Carrie Carlson, Anca (Dennis) Orina, Anne, Amy and Kate Monroe, and Morgan and Summer Handel.

Barney was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

Barney passed away Sunday, September 16 at the age of 83 years, 7 months and 8 days, in the Good Samaritan Center at Postville, Iowa. Preceding him in death are his wife, Marjorie, his parents, three brothers, and one sister.

The Postville Herald-Leader, September 26, 2007