Obituaries : Howard Duane Pohlmann

Howard Duane Pohlmann, age 90, died Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at the Keystone Nursing Care Center with his loving family by his side.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, June 28, 2025, at St. John Lutheran Church in Keystone with Rev. Josiah J.A. Schultz officiating. Interment will be held at the Keystone Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 until 7:00 PM, Friday, June 27th also at the church. Phillips Funeral Home in Keystone is in charge of arrangements.

Howard, the son of Jacob and Alice (Allers) Pohlmann, was born January 8, 1935 on the family farm north of Keystone, Iowa. He lost his mother when he was 6 months old. We believe he was baptized after his mother died. His dad remarried Cherry Voss when Howard was 6 years old, so she was the only mother he remembered. He started Country School north of the home place for several years until his dad broke his leg, then they moved to Belle Plaine where he also attended several grades in the Belle Plaine School and then finished his Junior High and High School in Keystone. He graduated from Keystone High School in May 1953. Howard joined the Turners in 1953 so he could play basketball.

After his graduation he drove a truck for his brother Leonard Pohlmann for corn sorting, the Pea Vinery and a sweet corn company in Garrison, Iowa. He also helped his brother as a carpenter once in a while. He started farming for his sister-in-law Irene Pohlmann after his brother LeRoy died.

Howard married Janyce Ulch on January 21, 1956 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. They had a wedding reception at Janyce's mother's farm after the wedding, then they had a wedding dance at Turner Hall in Keystone, Iowa.

The family farm was being farmed when they got married, so they worked for a farmer by Blairstown for a year. They were confirmed and joined the Lutheran Church in September 1956. They then moved to the family farm and began farming in March of 1957. They milked cows, had sheep, cattle, hogs and chickens to keep them busy.

To this union a son Jeffrey Lee was born, a daughter Tamie Lea and daughter Deena Marie.

Howard's dad had another farm that Howard also farmed, plus he rented his sister-in -law's farm. This kept him and his wife busy with farming the land and all of the animal chores.

Howard was a member of NFO for many years, and they attended many NFO Conventions. The kids did the chores while they were away. Howard raised Stine Seed Corn and held a Field Day each year, providing lunch for those that attended.

Howard enjoyed bowling in Keystone and also entered tournaments with his teammates. In one of those tournaments he had a 299 game and a 825 series in Waterloo, Iowa.

He is survived by his wife Janyce of 69 years and children Jeff (Kelly) Pohlmann, Tamie Pohlmann and Deena Anderson. They were blessed with 15 Grandchildren; 21 Great Grandchildren; and 1 Great-Great Grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his mother Alice; his father Jacob; step-mom Cherry; brothers Leonard, and LeRoy; sister Arlene; sisters-in-law MaryAnn, Lillian, Irene; and brother-in-law Carl Stueck. He also lost several nephews Roger Pohlmann, Ted Stueck and Walt Hammill and great nephews Mike and David Pohlmann and nieces Kay Pohlmann and Fran Stueck.

Online Condolences: www.phillipsfuneralhomes.com