Howard Roy TULP

TULP, OLSON, WEST, PALS, TIGGEMANN, JOHNSON, SHAHAN, MALEK, GINES, TOMPKINS, GOEMAN, BARRICK, BRINKMAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/24/2011 at 16:54:25

January 6, 1928 -- April 20, 2011

Belmond, IA - Howard R. Tulp, 83, a longtime resident of Goodell, most recently of Belmond, died Wednesday (April 20, 2011) at his home in Belmond. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, April 25, at the Goodell, United Methodist Church. The Rev. Paddy Druhl will be officiating. Burial of Howard's casket with full military honors will precede the service on Monday. Public viewing and visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today, Sunday, April 24, at Andrews Funeral Home, 516 First St. S.E., Belmond. There will not be a viewing at church Monday. Memorials may be directed to the family or the donor's choice.

Howard Roy Tulp, the son of Herman and Effie (Olson) Tulp was born on Jan. 6, 1928, at Wimbledon, N.D. He moved with his family to Rowan, as a child and attended Rowan country schools. At age seven Howard's inquisitive mind and interest in things of a mechanical nature led him to disassemble and re-assemble a John Deere tractor. This project was the beginning of many life long, diverse occupations involving with his hands and mind. Following his education, Howard was employed at the Implement in Rowan, Clarion Pontiac, Banwell Co. and various other businesses. He was married to Barbara Lee West, on July 5, 1947, at First Congregational Church, Forest City. The couple were later divorced. Howard entered the United States Army on Oct. 25, 1950, during the Korean Conflict. He was stationed in Frankfurt, Germany. He was Honorably Discharged as a PFC with a specialty as a Master Mechanic and transferred to the Reserves on Nov. 7, 1952. Howard was united in marriage to Lyola L. Pals, June 19, 1953, at the Presbyterian Church, Clarion. This union was blessed with four children: Paula, Harlan, Joy, and Harvey. Howard's career paths led him down many roads in providing for his family. He farmed for a number of years and worked as a mechanic throughout most of his life. Howard was a jack-of-all-trades and had operated Tulp's Repair, ran semi tractors, owned and operated Tulp's DX Station in Belmond, and in more recent times owned Tulp Motors in Goodell.

His entrepreneurial spirit also drove Howard to dabble in businesses such as a Toro dealership, snowmobile sales, fertilizer sales, and he sold seed corn throughout his career. He was a man who loved to work with his mind and hands and took great pride in teaching his many skills, knowledge, and philosophy of self-sufficiency to his children and grandchildren. His family reflects that Howard was always their go to guy when they were stuck on a project or needed some of his keen insight into the workings or framework of a project or task. Being a man who loved to remain active throughout his life, one might find him tinkering on one of his many inventions such as his pontoon paddlewheel boat, delving into his love of engines as he helped with a family race car engine, assisting with a family construction project, or spending time involved with his love of flying and interest experimental aircraft. His passion for flying was rekindled in recently as he was looking forward to assisting his son-in-law with the construction of an airplane.

Howard and Lyola enjoyed many travels throughout the years including trips to Hawaii and the Dominican Republic. He and Lyola also enjoyed more regional treks to places like New Ulm, Minn., where Howard's love of polka music could be seen at the Polka Festivals. He truly relished times spent with his family. His children recall great times spent with dad and mom at the local rollerskating rinks where one might find Howard gliding and dancing about the rink showing his talents as a terrific skater. Favorite memories include Sunday afternoon snowmobiling excursions as a family which would almost always include a stop along the way for a bonfire and hotdog roast along the banks of the rivers. Howard's adventurous side could be found as he would take his family boating and waterskiing on an area lakes, often these outings led to adventures that would most certainly leave many exciting memories and adventures of a lifetime.

Howard's grand kids looked forward to tooling about on one of Grandpa Howard's lawn tractors and just simply hanging out with him and listening to vivid details of his life. They also cherish memories of Grandpa being there for them as a cheerleader as he followed their many activities and accomplishments. Howard enjoyed following car racing, especially the racing events and venues that his family was involved in. He was also a NASCAR fan. Howard loved to figure things out, loved history and was a lifelong learner who was always reading something. He had a fondness for polka music and without a doubt every radio in his house and vehicles would certainly be tuned to a polka station. Many a Sunday afternoon activity included a background of polka tunes in the backdrop.

Howard was a member of the Goodell United Methodist Church and a longtime member of the Experimental Aircraft Association. He was very proud of his country and was a longtime member of the military service organizations in Klemme and Goodell, including serving as Post Commander for a time. Howard was always up for a good conversation and loved to express his views, especially when it came to politics and current events. He never met a stranger who didn't become a friend. He loved to share stories of his days in the service and of his growing up years. Howard was united in marriage to Esther L. Tiggemann on June 22, 1994, at the Little Brown Church, Nashua. The couple enjoyed traveling. Esther became a resident of the Rehabilitation Center of Belmond in Sept. 2006. During her time there, Howard was a devoted partner to her, rarely missing daily visits to see her.

Those who are thankful for sharing in Howard's life journey include his daughter, Paula (Terry) Johnson, Kanawha, and their family Shawn Shahan (Billie Jo) and their children Jaiden and Jenna, and Chad Shahan; son Harlan (Karen) Tulp, Belmond, and their family Elizabeth (Seth) Malek, Holden (Tracy) Tulp and their daughter Taryn, Kyle Tulp and Heath Tulp; daughter Joy (Kurt) Gines, Logan, Utah, and their family Nicholas (Ana) Gines, Emily Gines, Aaron Gines, and Katelin Gines; son Harvey (June) Tulp, Goodell, and their family Heather (Justin) Tompkins, Daniel (Nicholas) Johnson and their family Mary Ann and Mary Jane, Hadley Tulp and Crystal Goeman; also surviving are many nieces, nephews, and friends. Howard was preceded in death by his parents; sister Carol Barrick and her husband Harry; sister Karna Brinkman and her husband Garland; and his wife Esther Tulp, April 14, 2010. Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond.

Mason City Globe Gazette -- Iowa
April 24, 2011