Harold Charles Abel, 86, of Burlington, Iowa, died on Thursday March 20, 2014 at Blair House, Burlington, Iowa.
Born on December 17, 1927, in Burlington, Iowa, he was the second of five children born to Jesse P. and Gertrude M. Beckman Abel. On February 7, 1953 he married Dorothy "Rusty" Redfern. She passed away February 6, 1987. On November 23, 1990 he married Rosemary (McLaughlin) Harkness.
Harold worked the family farm until his retirement. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship proudly recognized the Farm of Harold C. Abel as a "Century Farm" in 2004. He was also employed as a weather observer at the Southeast Iowa Regional Airport in Burlington from 1989-1996.
He was a Black Knight of the Knights of Columbus, a member of St. Vincent dePaul Society, and being a devoted Catholic, attended SS John & Paul Catholic Church. He served on the Des Moines County Mutual Insurance Company Board of Directors for 25 years and on the Mediapolis School Board for 9 years.
Harold loved airplanes and was a licensed pilot since the age of 16. He was a member of The Hilltop Flyers along with other flying clubs. He enjoyed flying to Farm Progress shows. His hobbies included reading, history, politics; he appreciated nature, music, dancing, traveling, and good food. When driving and observing the countryside he had a keen sense and awareness of the different types of topography and soils.
He especially enjoyed spending time with his family which included his wife, children, 32 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, all of his other relatives, as well as his many friends. He never knew a stranger. Harold had a great sense of humor. It was always fun to hear his boisterous laugh when he would read the comic "Dagwood" or watch Tom & Jerry cartoons.
Harold enjoyed meeting with his five day a week "McDonald's Coffee Group". This group of interesting friends would exchange their views and seemed to have solved a lot of the world's problems. Above all, Harold cherished his faith and his loved ones.
He is survived by his wife, one daughter, two sons, three step-daughters, one stepson, 32 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one sister, two brothers, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, his parents and his brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Betty Abel.
Born on December 17, 1927, in Burlington, Iowa, he was the second of five children born to Jesse P. and Gertrude M. Beckman Abel. On February 7, 1953 he married Dorothy "Rusty" Redfern. She passed away February 6, 1987. On November 23, 1990 he married Rosemary (McLaughlin) Harkness.
Harold worked the family farm until his retirement. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship proudly recognized the Farm of Harold C. Abel as a "Century Farm" in 2004. He was also employed as a weather observer at the Southeast Iowa Regional Airport in Burlington from 1989-1996.
He was a Black Knight of the Knights of Columbus, a member of St. Vincent dePaul Society, and being a devoted Catholic, attended SS John & Paul Catholic Church. He served on the Des Moines County Mutual Insurance Company Board of Directors for 25 years and on the Mediapolis School Board for 9 years.
Harold loved airplanes and was a licensed pilot since the age of 16. He was a member of The Hilltop Flyers along with other flying clubs. He enjoyed flying to Farm Progress shows. His hobbies included reading, history, politics; he appreciated nature, music, dancing, traveling, and good food. When driving and observing the countryside he had a keen sense and awareness of the different types of topography and soils.
He especially enjoyed spending time with his family which included his wife, children, 32 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, all of his other relatives, as well as his many friends. He never knew a stranger. Harold had a great sense of humor. It was always fun to hear his boisterous laugh when he would read the comic "Dagwood" or watch Tom & Jerry cartoons.
Harold enjoyed meeting with his five day a week "McDonald's Coffee Group". This group of interesting friends would exchange their views and seemed to have solved a lot of the world's problems. Above all, Harold cherished his faith and his loved ones.
He is survived by his wife, one daughter, two sons, three step-daughters, one stepson, 32 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one sister, two brothers, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, his parents and his brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Betty Abel.
Harold Charles Abel, 86, of Burlington, Iowa, died on Thursday March 20, 2014 at Blair House, Burlington, Iowa.
Born on December 17, 1927, in Burlington, Iowa, he was the second of five children born to Jesse P. and Gertrude M. Beckman Abel. On February 7, 1953 he married Dorothy "Rusty" Redfern. She passed away February 6, 1987. On November 23, 1990 he married Rosemary (McLaughlin) Harkness.
Harold worked the family farm until his retirement. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship proudly recognized the Farm of Harold C. Abel as a "Century Farm" in 2004. He was also employed as a weather observer at the Southeast Iowa Regional Airport in Burlington from 1989-1996.
He was a Black Knight of the Knights of Columbus, a member of St. Vincent dePaul Society, and being a devoted Catholic, attended SS John & Paul Catholic Church. He served on the Des Moines County Mutual Insurance Company Board of Directors for 25 years and on the Mediapolis School Board for 9 years.
Harold loved airplanes and was a licensed pilot since the age of 16. He was a member of The Hilltop Flyers along with other flying clubs. He enjoyed flying to Farm Progress shows. His hobbies included reading, history, politics; he appreciated nature, music, dancing, traveling, and good food. When driving and observing the countryside he had a keen sense and awareness of the different types of topography and soils.
He especially enjoyed spending time with his family which included his wife, children, 32 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, all of his other relatives, as well as his many friends. He never knew a stranger. Harold had a great sense of humor. It was always fun to hear his boisterous laugh when he would read the comic "Dagwood" or watch Tom & Jerry cartoons.
Harold enjoyed meeting with his five day a week "McDonald's Coffee Group". This group of interesting friends would exchange their views and seemed to have solved a lot of the world's problems. Above all, Harold cherished his faith and his loved ones.
He is survived by his wife, one daughter, two sons, three step-daughters, one stepson, 32 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one sister, two brothers, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, his parents and his brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Betty Abel.
Born on December 17, 1927, in Burlington, Iowa, he was the second of five children born to Jesse P. and Gertrude M. Beckman Abel. On February 7, 1953 he married Dorothy "Rusty" Redfern. She passed away February 6, 1987. On November 23, 1990 he married Rosemary (McLaughlin) Harkness.
Harold worked the family farm until his retirement. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship proudly recognized the Farm of Harold C. Abel as a "Century Farm" in 2004. He was also employed as a weather observer at the Southeast Iowa Regional Airport in Burlington from 1989-1996.
He was a Black Knight of the Knights of Columbus, a member of St. Vincent dePaul Society, and being a devoted Catholic, attended SS John & Paul Catholic Church. He served on the Des Moines County Mutual Insurance Company Board of Directors for 25 years and on the Mediapolis School Board for 9 years.
Harold loved airplanes and was a licensed pilot since the age of 16. He was a member of The Hilltop Flyers along with other flying clubs. He enjoyed flying to Farm Progress shows. His hobbies included reading, history, politics; he appreciated nature, music, dancing, traveling, and good food. When driving and observing the countryside he had a keen sense and awareness of the different types of topography and soils.
He especially enjoyed spending time with his family which included his wife, children, 32 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, all of his other relatives, as well as his many friends. He never knew a stranger. Harold had a great sense of humor. It was always fun to hear his boisterous laugh when he would read the comic "Dagwood" or watch Tom & Jerry cartoons.
Harold enjoyed meeting with his five day a week "McDonald's Coffee Group". This group of interesting friends would exchange their views and seemed to have solved a lot of the world's problems. Above all, Harold cherished his faith and his loved ones.
He is survived by his wife, one daughter, two sons, three step-daughters, one stepson, 32 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one sister, two brothers, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, his parents and his brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Betty Abel.
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
