Gerald Wayne Harms

Gerald Wayne Harms, 83, of Fort Dodge, passed away on Saturday, October 19, 2013 at the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home. Gerald was born to Alfred and Matilda Harms, December 16, 1929 on the family farm near Manson, Iowa. He grew up in the Manson and Moorland areas where he attended country school and graduated from Moorland High School in 1948. In 1956, he was united in marriage to Doris Nelson at the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Eagle Grove, observing their 57th anniversary on June 24, 2013. They lived near Moorland before moving to Fort Dodge in 1960. Gerald served with the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1953. He was stationed in Korea during the Korean War as a heavy equipment head mechanic with the combat engineers. After being honorably discharged, he returned home to continue farming which was what he loved. Gerald farmed his entire life while also working for Iowa Beef Packers, Shimkat Motors, Gralnek Motors, and lastly Overhead Door Corporation for many years. Gerald was an active member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge. He was confirmed there and served as an usher for many years. He loved family gatherings, playing cards, golfing, fishing, and harvest time in the fall. He also loved to travel, especially enjoying a three week trip to Alaska in 1974 where he drove the Alcan Highway, and his time spent in the Redwood Forest in 1999. Gerald was always a hard worker who enjoyed life. He was very handy around the house, and there wasn't a thing he couldn't fix. He was affectionately known as "Mr. Fix-it" by his kids and grandkids. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend, and will be missed by all. Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Matilda (Zeckser) Harms; sisters, Lavonne Nessa and Velma Bunda; brothers, Irvin and Jim Harms; and infant grandson, Christian Ball. Gerald is survived by his wife, Doris Harms of Fort Dodge and four children, Laura (Jack) Shere of Madison, WI; Jeff (Glenda) Harms of Fort Dodge; Anne (Dean) Panovich of Kansas City; and Beth (Stephen) Ball of Denver, CO. He is also survived by ten grandchildren and one great-grandchild. In lieu of flowers, the family will be making memorial contributions to the Paula J. Baber Hospice Home, the Christian Ransom Ball Scholarship Fund for Down Syndrome, and St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Visitation will on Friday October 25, 2013 from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, October 26, 2013 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church with Rev. Allen Henderson officiating. Burial will follow at North Lawn Cemetery. Visitation Fri, Oct 25, 2013 at 4:00 pm - 8:00 pm Laufersweiler-Sievers Funeral Home 307 South 12th Street Fort Dodge, Iowa 50501 Service Sat, Oct 26, 2013 at 10:30 am