WALK, Harley Ernst 1919-2003

WALK

Posted By: K. Kittleson
Date: 2/7/2009 at 18:33:45

GRAFTON, IOWA - Harley Ernst Walk, 83, of Grafton, Worth county, Iowa, died Tuesday (Feb. 11, 2003) at his home.

Harley was born July 11, 1919, on the family farm near Grafton, the son of Christian and Lora (Bruesewitz) Walk. Harley's grandfather built the house in which he was born and he lived there his entire life.

He attended Grafton High School and was Salutatorian of his class. While in high school, Harley participated in basketball.

He served in World War II as a field clerk in San Antonio, Texas. Harley was a lifelong member of the Grafton American Legion Post # 616.

Harley was united in marriage to Viola M. Frisch of Grafton. To this union two children were born, Anne and Mark. Viola passed away in 1973.

In 1974, Harley was united in marriage to Alphia Rachut.

He was an early adopter of turkey farming in Grafton, where he and his brother Lowell Walk, managed Walk Bros. Turkeys until his retirement from farming in 1981. Harley loved the Grafton life.

He was a member of the St. Ansgar School Board during the time his children were in high school. For many years, he supervised the grilling of turkeys for Grafton Turkey Days. When he was not able to continue this task due to the success of the event and his age, he participated by helping.

He loved fishing and was a skilled fisherman. He fished in Minnesota, Canada, and was fortunate to have fished at Yellowstone Lake in Wyoming and the Atlantic Ocean near Boston, Mass. Harley was an avid "500" player and would play anytime given the opportunity.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Grafton with the Rev. Wayne Ellingson officiating. Interment will be in the Grafton Cemetery in Grafton.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage. Visitation will continue one hour before services Saturday at the church.

He is survived by his wife, Alphia Walk of the Worth Living Center in St. Ansgar; one daughter, Anne Hammond and her husband, Harry, of Boulder, Colo., and their children David and Christopher; one son, Mark Walk and his wife, Tracy, of Osage, and their children, Allison and Stephany; three step-daughters, Mary Greenman and her husband, Al,of Austin, Minn., and their families, Darlene Zuehl and her husband, Verle, of Northbridge, Mass., and their families, and Betty Brumm and her husband, Stan, of Eden Prairie, Minn., and their families; one brother, Lowell Walk and his wife, Virginia, of Grafton, and a special niece, Nancy Walk Severson, of Grafton.

He was preceded by his parents; first wife, Viola, and a step-daughter, Shirley Fossey

Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home (641) 732-3706.

[Mason City Globe Gazette]