Derold E. Happel

VINTON: Derold E. Happel, 79, died Tuesday, October 13, 2015 at the Vinton Lutheran Home, where he had been a resident since 2013.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 17, 2015 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton with Rev. Stephen Preus officiating. Interment will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton. Friends may call from 4 until 7 p.m. Friday at the Phillips Funeral Home Chapel (212 E. 6th Street) in Vinton. A Memorial Fund has been established for the Vinton Lutheran Home or the Vinton Volunteer Fire Department.

Derold was born May 15, 1936 in Vinton to Elmer A. and Mildred (Stevenson) Happel. He graduated Vinton High School with the class of 1954 and attended Iowa State University for the Short Course in Agriculture. On May 31, 1958 he was united in marriage to Brenda Hagerty at Wesley United Methodist Church in Vinton.

Derold farmed in Benton County for 43 years. He was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where he held many offices through the years. Derold was very active in the community, serving as a Taylor Township Trustee, as chairman of the Rural Fire Board and as a member of the Vinton Fire Advisory Board and the Eden Mutual Insurance Board. Derold and Brenda spent many summers with family and friends at their home at Holiday Lake and many winters in Sun City, Arizona. They hosted a 4th of July party at the farm for many years. Derold was a faithful Oliver tractor driver and was a member of the Oliver Hart-Parr Collectors.

He is survived by his wife Brenda of Vinton; two sons, Rick (Dee) Happel and Doug Happel, all of Vinton; 3 grandchildren, Renee Happel of Hiawatha, Rebecca (Matt) Sturtz of Vinton and Michael Happel of Vinton; 1 step grandson, Jesse (Amy) Lennox of Marion 5 great grandchildren; 3 step great grandchildren; his brother Vernon (Betty) Happel of Cedar Rapids; his sister-in-law, Lois (Perry) Ewins of Robins and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his mother and father-in-law.

Phillips Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements and condolences may be left at: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com

Comments

Submit a Condolence

JK October 16, 2015, 4:46 pm Deepest sympathy To Brenda and the Happel Family I will always remember Derold ( my bus driver when I was in high school.) What a wonderful man. Our prayers go out to all of you.

KFA October 15, 2015, 4:15 pm Please accept our sympathies in the death of Derrold. My mother remembers him as a fine Christian man. Sincerely, Dorothy Fechner and Karen Fechner Armbrecht.

PS October 15, 2015, 3:04 pm I am sorry to hear this and send sympathy to each one of you. I am sure you will miss him Brenda. I still remember when you 2 were married.

KM October 14, 2015, 7:07 pm My deepest heart felt sympathy to Brenda and her family. I so enjoyed Darold and his odd humor. You too are a perfect pair. Love ya to pieces, prayers going up for all of you.

SS October 14, 2015, 1:48 pm So sorry for your loss! Love you guys! He\'ll sure be missed!

JA October 14, 2015, 1:06 pm I am praying for your whole family, knowing that Derold is in a much better place, smiling and laughing at one of his own jokes. I have throughly enjoyed every conversation I was honored to have had over the past 36 years. We have lost one of the good ones!

BA October 14, 2015, 12:04 pm Hi sorry for the loss of a great friend . I will keep the Happel family in prayers in the days to come god bless you always

SK October 13, 2015, 9:14 pm Sending prayers to Happel family I have
Known the family since a child. Always
Was nice to see you when I stop see
My mom.

Obituaries : Derold E. Happel

Comments