HARVEY L. BARKEMA
FOREST CITY - Harvey L. Barkema, 96, of Forest City died Saturday, April 5, 2014 at the Hancock County Memorial Hospital in Britt.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M., Friday, April 11th at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel, 160 E.4th St., in Garner with Rev. Bruce Barber officiating. Burial will be in Concord Township Cemetery in Garner with military rites by the Garner Veterans Ceremonial Unit.
Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 P.M., Thursday at the Cataldo Funeral Chapel and one hour prior to services.
Harvey Luverne Barkema, the son of Hauko and Grace (Lieuwen) Barkema, was born March 27, 1918 at Goodell. He attended the rural schools of Hancock County. Harvey served his country during WWII in the US Army from October 1941 through November 1945. Harvey trained stateside with the barrage balloon unit and then, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, shipped out to Hawaii. In 1943, Harvey saw action in the battle to take Saipan Island as part of the 27th Army Division. Harvey served 42 months in the Pacific. After the war and upon returning to Iowa, Harvey married Irene Romp on December 8, 1945. They began their married life in Klemme, Iowa, beginning farming east of Klemme. They eventually moved to a farm west of Forest City. He enjoyed mostly working the farm. He was a 4-H leader for several years with the Forest Eveready's 4-H club. Harvey enjoyed hunting and fishing. Later in life he often went to the river north of Forest City to fish. Harvey liked to garden and many people shared the produce he had grown.
Harvey is survived by his five children, Lon (Jacque) Barkema of Mason City, Ned (Deb) Barkema of Franklin, OH, Tom Barkema of Forest City, Lisa (Bruce) Barber of Bedford, TX and Lori Barkema of Albert Lea, MN; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; a sister, Jean Ostendorf of Klemme; and a sister-in-law, Irene Barkema of Klemme.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Irene, Jan. 10, 2008; an infant son, Ronnie Roy; brothers, Ted, Leland "Bud", Leo, and Mervin Barkema; and a sister, Marvel Stadtlander.
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