Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa

Harold Kenneth SEARLES, only son of Harry Ransome SEARLES and Ida Marie SIMPSON SEARLES, was born October 8, 1924 on a farm south of Blockton, Iowa in Ringgold County, and passed away November 4, 1988, at the Lutheran Hospital in Des Moines, following a lengthy illness.

He grew up in the Blockton area and graduated from high school there in 1943. Following graduation, he farmed with his father and worked at the elevator in Blockton.

On June 28, 1947, he was married to Anna G. HOLM of Des Moines. No children were born to this union but they adopted a son, Thomas. They lived in the Blockton, Redding and Mount Ayr areas before moving to Des Moines where they lived, with the exception of seven months in California in 1967.

He was employed by the Bookey Packing Company for several years before working for the Building and Grounds Department of the State of Iowa where he worked until he became disabled and retired in 1978.

He was a kind and loving husband, father, grandfather and brother. He always had a smile and never complained through all his suffering. He will be missed by all who knew him.

Preceding him in death were his mother, father, father-in-law, mother-in-law, two brothers-in-law, and a nephew.

Left to mourn his passing are his devoted wife, Anna; his son, Thomas; two grandsons, Tommy and Danny, all of Des Moines; two sisters, Naomi SHAFER and husband John of Redding and Norma McCLINTOCK of Mount Ayr; two brothers-in-law, Wilbur HOLM of Des Moines, Harold HOLM and sister-in-law, Jean HOLM of South San Francisco; also nieces, nephews, and a host of friends.

Funeral services were held November 7, 1988, at the Hamilton Funeral Home, Des Moines, with Rev. Don ROTHERWELLER of Central Lutheran Church, Des Moines, officiating. Burial was in Highland Memory Gardens, Des Moines, With Hamilton Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. Casketbearers were Robert SHAFER, Stephen SMITH, Jon THOMPSON, Richard SCHURMAN, Terry MEIER and Keith SHEPHERD.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, July of 2011

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