Harold Horst

Harold Horst, age 89, of Miles, Iowa, passed away Monday, May 18, 2015 on the family farm. A funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 23, 2015 at the Miles Presbyterian Church, Miles, Iowa. Burial will be in the Miles Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. Friday, May 22, 2015 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Preston, Iowa. Memorials may be given in Harold's honor for Clinton Community College.
Harold was born November 1, 1925 on the family farm near Miles, Iowa, the son of Albertus and Elsie (Johannsen) Horst. He attended Miles schools and at a young age, Harold took on most of the responsibilities of the farm, as his father became ill. Harold met the love of his life, Louise Molin while she was teaching at Miles. They were married June 24, 1951 in Stillman Valley, Illinois, and celebrated sixty-three years of marriage. Harold was a life-long, third generation farmer who was skilled in working with horses, cattle, building fence and cutting wood, as all of these were required for farming in his day.
Harold farmed with his brother Robert for twenty years and during this time they raised hogs, chickens, cattle, corn, and oats. Later he farmed with his son, Alan, for thirty years. During this time they milked cows and raised mostly alfalfa. He especially enjoyed raising cattle and taking care of the land for both crops and CRP. After retirement Harold continued to be involved by using a four wheeler to monitor the livestock and crops. He would appreciate the cold days in which he did not have to go out for chores.
Harold was a member of the Miles Presbyterian Church, Miles, Iowa and the Jackson County Farm Bureau.
He will be dearly missed by Louise, Alan, and many friends. He is also survived by a sister, Arlene (Horst) Simons of Bellevue. Harold is preceded in death by both parents; two sisters, Evelyn (Horst) Jensen and Judy (Horst) Paulsen; and a brother, Robert Horst.
Click to view Harold Horst's Family History Funeral Meditation for Harold Horst – May 23, 2015

Rev. Teresa L. Bartlett- officiant; Miles Presbyterian Church, Miles, Iowa Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NRSV)For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die;

a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

a time to kill, and a time to heal;

a time to break down, and a time to build up;

a time to weep, and a time to laugh;

a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;

a time to seek, and a time to lose;

a time to keep, and a time to throw away;

a time to tear, and a time to sew;

a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;

a time to love, and a time to hate;

a time for war, and a time for peace. MEDITATION

Ecclesiastes reminds us that “For everything there is a season” (Ecclesiastes 3:1a); our human life mirrors the natural world for in each of our lives there are times of newness, growth, change, and death. Our creator God designed the seasons and each allows for different types of growth and activities.

Those who live on or love the land know the rhythm of the seasons. Spring brings us budding trees and flowers, greening grass, planting season; and all types of new birth from robins to calves. The summer months are times of growth and maturity; fall brings the harvest and preparation for winter. We often think of winter as death; as most trees go dormant, and the ground freezes. Winter however brings rest for much of nature; trees and plants and many animals rest and prepare for the burst of energy which will be needed for spring.

As a farmer Harold knew the pattern of the seasons and how it governed life on the farm. He grew up on the family farm and knew the challenges and joys of farm life which isn’t a 9-5 job; early mornings and often late nights are the standard. Harold knew that you didn’t get snow days; even in a blizzard the cows still needed to be milked and fed. In each season the fields needed to be plowed, planted, cultivated or harvested even if you’d rather being doing something else. Harold could quickly assess wind directions; a valuable skill because weather often dictates what gets done and what has to wait on a farm. Harold knew the joys of farming; a spring rain, the beauty of the summer sunset, the satisfaction of a good harvest or the profitable sale of cattle. In Harold’s 89 years he’d seen many changes in farming; from actual horse power to his own four-wheeler. Farmers know that they have to take care of their equipment and horses were important to farm life in 1930’s. Harold had shared with Alan that as a boy one of his chores was to feed the horses. Each horse had a ration of one can of oats and two ears of corn; this was a big job for a 5 year old. Harold commented it was a wonder he never got stepped on by the large work horses. Harold remembered when it would take a week to plow 30 acres with a team of horses and a walking plow.

Farming is unpredictable from weather to the markets, one has to adapt to survive and to thrive. Through the years there were changes in equipment, practices, crops, from dairy to beef cattle, and new conservation methods employed. New technology, equipment and methods made farm life easier in many ways. A four wheeler afforded Harold the freedom to see what was happening around the farm; checking on livestock and crops when and where he wanted. A 4 wheeler was generally parked outside the back door, Harold would give a quick call to Louise and he was out the door and off to roam the fields.

Another technology Harold got comfortable with was his cell phone; I understand he was a master with speed dial; which could quickly connect him with Alan, his sister and other friends. When it became harder for Harold to use the 4 wheeler to travel around the farm, modern technology gave Harold “eyes” in the barn through a couple of cameras mounted inside so he could see what was happening from the comfort of his recliner. Harold showed his faithfulness to his parents in his work on the family farm, to Louise in their 63 years of marriage, to their son Alan as they worked together and planned for the future of the farm. Harold was even tempered and his manner of teaching was often to let one discover the answer for themselves. Harold was a steward, a caretaker; he saw the farm become a Century Farm designating that it had remained in the same family for 100 years. Harold wanted to leave what had been entrusted to him better than he found it, a characteristic of one who loves and respects the land.

The brown recliner by the south window is empty today; Harold isn’t there to watch the earth changing, so see the flowers growing around the windmill, the cattle in the lot, or the corn shooting up on the hillside. He is deeply missed by those who love him and it will take time to adjust to his loss. We know our physical bodies are mortal, and that death will come to each of us; yet when death comes it’s hard to say goodbye, to let go. Those who love Harold must live in the tension of mourning his physical absence and celebrating that he is no longer anxious or in pain. Harold has left behind his mortal body and is at peace, healed and whole in the presence of the Lord Jesus. May these words of Jesus Christ give you the assurance of Christ’s faithfulness;

”I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.” (John 11:25a NRSV) Friends this is good news, let us claim the promise of eternal life offered to us through Jesus Christ. Secure in Christ’s promise we rejoice that in God’s time we’ll see Harold, all our loved ones again in our heavenly home. Until the time of that reunion, may these words of Jesus comfort you;

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” Thanks be to our Triune God. (John 14:27 NRSV) AMEN