Henry VIERKANT
VIERKANT, ARENHOLTZ, KOCH, LEE, THOMAS, INMAN, DELARIVA, LENNING, ENDERTON, NIESE
Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:54
November 7, 1914 ---- February 21, 2018
Clear Lake -- Henry Vierkant, 103, of Clear Lake, passed away Wednesday, February 21, 2018, at the Apple Valley Assisted Living in Clear Lake. Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, February 27, at the First Reformed Church, Meservey, with Rev. Rodney Meester presiding. Interment will be at the Meservey Cemetery. Visitation will be 1 hour before the service at the church.
Henry Vierkant was born November 7, 1914 in Wisner Township, Franklin County, Iowa, a son of Berand and Gesema (Arenholtz) Vierkant. He attended country school until beginning to work on the farm for his father and brother. Henry was united in marriage with Elizabeth Koch April 9, 1941. They farmed near Meservey until retiring from farming in 1962 and moving to Mason City. Henry continued working until he was in his 80's ending his career at Lea Mobile Glass.
Henry lived for his grandkids, spending as much time enhancing their lives with his presence and teachings. He never skipped an opportunity for new experiences including the last few years when he was able to ride in a John Deere Combine, a helicopter and a Polaris Slingshot. He loved to travel to see the country and drove 2 trips to Alaska.
Family members include his daughter: Suzanna (LaVerne) Lee, Clear Lake; son: Jim (Connie) Vierkant, Thornton; six grandchildren: Theresa (Danne) Thomas; Marilyn (Jeff) Inman; Michelle (Tom) DelaRiva; Barb (Matt) Lenning; Arlene (Darin) Enderton; James (Sheri) Vierkant; 9 great grandchildren; sister-in-law: Dolores Niese. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife, 3 brothers and 3 sisters.
https://www.retzfh.com/obituaries/
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CLEAR LAKE --- A North Iowa farmer who checked a few items off his bucket list in his 100s -- flying in a helicopter at 102 and riding in a modern combine at 101 -- has died.
Henry "Hank" Vierkant, 103, a resident of Apple Valley Assisted Living in Clear Lake, died Feb. 21. His funeral was Tuesday.
Vierkant's obituary said he "never skipped an opportunity for new experiences, including the last few years, when he was able to ride in a John Deere combine, a helicopter and a Polaris Slingshot," a three-wheel roadster motorcycle. In October 2016, Vierkant, then 101, received a belated 100th birthday present -- riding in the cab of a John Deere combine at Titan Pro's test plots in Clear Lake.
It had been at least 25 years since he had been in a combine, and Vierkant said technology had changed a great deal since then.
At one point as the combine rolled through the corn, Vierkant saw on the computer screen that 800 bushels had been harvested. When Vierkant was a farmer, 80 bushels was a good amount for that time, a Titan Pro President/CEO Jeff Meints said.
In July 2017, Vierkant said flying in a helicopter at age 102 was "one of the best times" of his life. During a hospital stay at Mercy Medical Center--North Iowa, he mentioned one of his bucket list wishes -- riding in a helicopter -- to Allie Maxwell, one of his nurses.
Maxwell helped coordinate the 20-minute ride, which included a view of Clear Lake. He told the Globe Gazette he wasn't scared, but added, "I had a pretty good driver."
At age 100, Vierkant was still able to enjoy the outdoors. Although he relied on a walker, Vierkant would walk around the outside of Apple Valley, getting in 2 or 3 miles a day.
That summer, he also hoed tomatoes in the garden outside his apartment window and built three wooden benches along a path through a circular flower garden.
"You've got to be as ornery as I am, that keeps you going," he told the Globe Gazette of his longevity.
During his life, Vierkant visited every state but Hawaii with his wife, Elizabeth. The two spent 65 years together. In his 70s, his wife dared him to pick up quilting, something he watched his mother do growing up. Since then, Vierkant made about 100 quilts, including Coca-Cola, John Deere, necktie and crib blankets.
"Every grandma that comes to show off a grandson or granddaughter gets one," Vierkant said in November 2014.
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