Harlan Hayes

GARNER - Harlan L. Hayes of Garner, died Thursday, April 2, 2009 at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa in Mason City.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A. M. Tuesday, April 7th at St. John’s Lutheran Church east of Garner with Rev. Carl Hedberg officiating. Burial will be in Concord Township Cemetery in Garner with military rites provided by the Garner Veterans Ceremonial Unit.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 P. M., Monday at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel in Garner and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

Memorials may be directed to St. John’s Lutheran Church or Lutheran Family Services.

Harlan Lester Hayes, the son of Warren and Blanche (Nelson) Hayes was born April 14, 1925, Webster City, the eldest of ten brothers. He graduated from Webster City High School in 1943, and as so many others of his generation, immediately answered his country’s call to service with the United States Army in Central Europe and later in Japan. For his service Harlan was awarded the Bronze Star. He returned to Webster City in May of 1946 where he delivered fuel for High View Co-operative. On June 19, 1949, he married Marilyn Boehnke at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Ft. Dodge. They lived in Fort Dodge until 1951, when they moved to the family farm northeast of Garner. In 1991, Harlan and Marilyn retired from farming and moved into Garner. Harlan enjoyed his family, farming, hunting and fishing with his sons, and delivering homes for Winnebago Industries.

He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church and served as a deacon, and president of the congregation and Fellowship Club. Harlan was also a member of the Garner VFW and American Legion, Garner Shipping Association as well as a trustee for Concord Township. He served on many boards in the area including the Hancock County Fair, Hancock County Beef and Pork Boards, ASCS, and the Farmers’ Cooperative Society in Garner.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn, of Garner; seven children, Steven (Norene) Hayes of West Des Moines, Sandra (Robert) Wilson of Coralville, Dean (Irene) Hayes of Keller, TX, Doug (Jaci) Hayes of Garner, Debra Kleckner of Clive, Linda (Dale) Wood of Garner, and Rachel Hayes of Muscatine; grandchildren, Molly Hayes, Michael and Joanna Wilson, Kelsey Patterson, Mindy Gilbert, Shelby Allen, Sadie and Hillary Hayes, Sarah Kleckner, Andrew, Sarah, and Samuel Wood and Lucas and Edward Bruns; nine brothers, Clifford (Dorothy) Hayes of Webster City, Robert (Glenda) Hayes of Webster City, LeRoy (Karen) Hayes of Urbandale, Roger (Teresa) Hayes of Webster City, Gary (Alice) Hayes of Webster City, Russell (Connie) Hayes of Stewartville, MN, Gene (Janet) Hayes of Ft. Dodge, Steven (Beverly) Hayes of Webster City, and Theodore (Jerri) Hayes of Webster City; three sisters-in-law, Irma (Ralph) Nissen of Ames, Norma Nutting of Clear Lake, and Linda Boehnke of Omaha, NE; a brother-in-law, Quentin Love of Mesa, AZ; and many nieces and nephews.


He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Susan Kinsella, May 6, 2000; son-in-law, Steven Kleckner; and grandson, Joshua Bruns.