Raymond Gilman HARKEMA

HARKEMA, CHARLESTON, MARTIN, JOHANSEN, SMITH, NOHRENBERG, JOHANSEN, GIMER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 8/5/2007 at 09:58:27

Raymond G. Harkema
May 3, 1931-July 21, 2007

LATIMER—Raymond Gilman Harkema, 76, of Latimer, formerly of Dows, died on Saturday, July 21, 2007, at the Hampton Health Care Center in Hampton. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, July 26, at the Morgan United Methodist Church near Dows, with Pastor Lexie Kirkpatrick officiating. Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery near Dows. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services on Thursday at the church. The Ewing Dugger Helgeson Funeral Home in Dows is in charge of the arrangements.

Ray, the son of John and Pearl Charleston Harkema, was born on May 3, 1931 in Dows. He attended Dows Community Schools, graduating from the Dows High School in 1949. In 1951, Ray entered the U.S. Army and served his country until his discharge in 1953. Ray was united in marriage with Lila Martin in 1954 in Dows and to this union two daughters were born. He was employed as a trucker for a time before purchasing the Dows Locker, which he owned and operated for 20 years. He then returned to trucking, retiring in 2004. On May 6, 2000, Ray married Nancy Johansen at the Morgan United Methodist Church near Dows. Ray was a member of the Morgan United Methodist Church. He served as mayor of Dows for 20 years. He enjoyed camping in his younger years and watching television.

Ray is survived by his wife, Nancy; daughter, Jolene (Jason) Nohrenberg of Popejoy; three step-daughters, Carol Smith of Texas, Jan (Gary) Stratmann of Latimer and Susan Johansen of Leadville, Colorado; two step-sons, David (Karolyn) Johansen and John (Brenda) Johansen, both of Latimer; 12 grandchildren; one great-grandson; two brothers, John (Mary) Harkema of Eagle Grove and Robert Harkema of Dows; sister, Nancy Gimer of Dows; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Tama; and two brothers, Richard and Ralph.

July 25, 2007
© Iowa Falls Times Citizen 2007