HAROLD NESS, SR.
Harold Ness, Sr., son of Joseph Edward Ness, Sr. and Hilda Grace Bolinger Ness, was born July 16, 1934 in Carroll County, Westminster, Maryland. Harold served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War and spent one year deployed to Saudi Arabia. On March 5, 1971, he married Retha Middleton in the Community of Christ Church in Davis City, Iowa. Harold was the custodian at Mount Ayr Community schools for 17 years. He also was the custodian and took care of several businesses and government offices in Mount Ayr.
Harold passed away March 31, 2014 upon arrival to the Ringgold County Hospital in Mount Ayr. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Ellsworth (Bud) Ness; sister, Mary Ness Pierce; daughter, Sherie Ness; grandson, Brett Lewis Fricke; son-in-law, Perry Lewis Fricke, and brothers-in-law, Linden Drake and Gene Mills.
Survivors include his wife, Retha Ness of Mount Ayr, Iowa; children, Jack Woodrow Ness of North Carolina, Dianne Marie Ness of Cambridge, Maryland, Harold (Linda) Ness, Jr. of Des Moines, Iowa, William Ness of Salisbury, Maryland, Scott Laverne (Amy) Ness of Salisbury, Maryland, Cherie (Lonnie) McGlynn of Urbandale, Iowa, Ed (Jolene) Hiebing of Leon, Iowa, Susan D. Hower and significant other David Dorsey of Clearfield, Iowa, Angelina K. Fricke of Mount Ayr, Iowa and Ronda (Gene) Thurman of Hatfield, Missouri; grandchildren, Lacey Richardson, Shyler Hamilton, Charrissa Lewis, Michelle Milam, Stephanie Cooper, Quillian Hiebing, Jessica Fricke, Denim Hiebing, Cory Thurman, Dexter Hiebing, Brian Thurman and Bryce Hower; numerous great-grandchildren; siblings, Jeanette Mills of Big Pool, Maryland, Lydia Ellen (Bob) Cadle of Upper Falls, Maryland, Josephine Agnes (Leo) Parker of Mount Airy, Maryland, Joseph Edward (Carolyn) Ness, Jr. of Leon, Iowa, Anna Mae Hilda (Bill) Baker of Cumberland, Maryland, Francis Vernon Ness of Westminster, Maryland, and sister-in-law, Donella Drake of Mount Ayr, Iowa.
Harold thoroughly enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping and any time the family would get together and share a few laughs and great food to eat. He will be greatly missed by his family and all those who had the privilege to know him. He could always be counted on for giving an honest unfiltered answer to all questions. If you wanted an honest opinion, he was the one to go to.
Services were conducted at Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr on Friday, April 4, 2014 with Randy Drake, Anthony Crandell and Mike Richardson officiating. Musicians included Nancy Powell and Frank Hudson.
Honorary pallbearers were Mike Richardson, Scott Peterson, Dan Warren, Roland Buck, Maynard Walsh and Dwain Crain, D.O.
Burial will be at a later date in the Rose Hill Cemetery in Mount Ayr.
A memorial fund has been established to the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation and Backpack Buddies c/o Food Bank of Iowa.
