George Howard

George Howard, 89, of Marshalltown, passed away on Sunday, August 14, 2016 at the Iowa River Hospice Home in Marshalltown. Funeral services for George will be held on Wednesday, August 17, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the Mitchell Family Funeral Home in Marshalltown. Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral services. Memorials may be directed to the Iowa River Hospice Home. For more information or to send a condolence, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234. Mitchell Family Funeral Home is caring for George and his family. George H. Howard was born on January 12, 1927 at the Howard home farm northeast of Laurel to James A. and Dora West Howard. George graduated from Laurel High School in 1945. He served his country honorably in the United States Army in the 13th Communication Squadron Command from 1945 until his honorable discharge in 1947. On September 2, 1947, George was united in marriage to Iva Zesch at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. Georges first job was driving a plant truck for his future father-in-law delivering in the Midwest. After that, he started his career in farming and retired in 1989. He was a member of the Laurel Lions Club and the SEMCO School Board. George raised quarter horses, loved to travel to Amish country and south Texas in the winter. He also enjoyed gardening and loved his St Louis Cardinals baseball. He loved to watch all sports, including East Marshall High School sports. George was a kid magnet and loved talking with them. George is survived by his wife of almost 69 years, Iva. Children: Georgia (Stan) Thomas of Marshalltown, Joyce Wagner of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Gary (Phyllis) Howard of rural Gilman. Grandchildren: Clay (Rhianna) Wagner of Greenwood, Arkansas, Bobbi (Chris) Taylor of Searcy, Arkansas, Samantha (John) Snyder of Edmond, Oklahoma, Eric (Jessie) Howard of rural Gilman and Allison (Sean) Frost of Marshalltown. He is also survived by fifteen great-grandchildren and his sister Ruth (Don) Howard of Hoffman Estates, Illinois as well as numerous nieces, nephews and other family members. George is preceded in death by his parents James and Dora, siblings; Margaret Fuller, Kenneth Howard, Madeline Speas, Delmar Howard, Anzel Kinniard, Donald Howard, Virginia Murdock and several nieces and nephews.