Howard Lynch

Howard Vernon Lynch long of Gladbrook, Iowa, and recently, of Grundy Center, Iowa, passed away at the Grundy County Municipal Hospital Long Term Care facility, in Grundy Center, Iowa on Friday, January 29, 2016. Howard was born on January 19, 1922 in Grundy Center, Iowa to Bert L. and Anna Henningsen Lynch. He was raised on the home farm in Clay Township and attended country schools and graduated from Grundy Center High School in 1939. Howard worked the farm, due to his fathers ill health until 1945, and then enlisted in the US Army when his fathers health improved. After basic training, he transferred to the Army Air Corps where he was trained as a weather observer at Tinker Army Air Field in Oklahoma City. Howard was always proud to be a weather man. After the service, he went back to the family farm in Grundy County. On February 27, 1948, he married Margaret M. Pedersen in Fredsville, Iowa. They farmed the family farm until 1952, and then moved to a farm west of Reinbeck, Iowa. Their only son, Kent Allen was born in June, 1954. They moved to a farm north of Gladbrook, Iowa in 1962 and remained there until retirement in 1981. Subsequently they built their dream home in Gladbrook. Always together, they enjoyed life in town and volunteered at Marshalltown Hospital for 13 years. He also worked summers for many years at the Union Grove Lake. Howard enjoyed the outdoors, playing cards and helping others. On the farm, his true passion was raising cattle. He served on church boards in both Reinbeck and Lincoln, Iowa, and taught Sunday School in Lincoln, and was a member of the Lincoln Lions Club and the Gladbrook American Legion. Howard was a Scout leader and member of the Grundy Center Oddfellows Lodge for several years while he was on the farm. After a long illness, Margaret passed away in October 2008. Howard had been her sole caregiver for 5 years. After her passing, he moved to Gladbrook Independent Living, where he stayed until November 2015, then moved to Grundy Center Long Term Care. He had just celebrated his 94th birthday. Howard was pre-deceased by his parents, sister Marie Dannen of Melbourne, Iowa, and brother Wayne of Grundy Center. Howard is survived by his son, Kent (Ann) Lynch of Edwards, Il; special friend, Ila Bohnsack, of Gladbrook; sister LaVonne Renner of Marshalltown, Iowa; and brother Mervin of Boston, MA, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Services with military rites will be at the Gladbrook, Iowa United Methodist Church on Friday, February 5, 2016 at 11:00 a.m., with visitation one hour before the services, also at the church. Burial will be in Maple Hill cemetery in Gladbrook. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Gladbrook-Lincoln Ambulance, Gladbrook Fire Association, Gladbrook United Methodist Church or to the Gladbrook American Legion Ehrig-McTurk Post 127. 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 Howard and his family.