Alton Herman

 

Alton E. Herman, 84, of Waukon died Monday, December 8, 2014 at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services were held Friday, December 12 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, with Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating. Burial was at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.

Alton Earl Herman was born June 26, 1930 in Waukon, the son of John and Alice (Sanderson) Herman. He was baptized at Old West Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville and confirmed at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon. Alton graduated from Waukon High School in 1948.

January 13, 1952, he married Margaret Elaine Christianson at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville. Alton worked in maintenance at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon for 10 years and for the Allamakee Community School District for 28 years before retiring in 1992. He and Margaret owned and operated the Uptown Motel in Waukon for over 20 years.

He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, where he served as a past president and served on various committees. He was active in the Waukon Jaycees for many years, where he received several awards. Alton was a 4-H leader and a member of the Northeast Iowa Chapter of the Iowa Custodial Association, where he received several awards at the state level. He enjoyed woodworking, gardening, taking scenic drives along the river with Margaret to look for bald eagles, and collecting Ertl Banks and John Deere memorabilia. He loved to host family get-togethers and telling jokes (especially Ole and Lena jokes).

Survivors include his wife, Margaret, of Waukon; his children, John (Penny) of Indiana, Ron (Bev) of Iowa City, Don (Linda) of Ankeny, Dennis (Julie) of Lansing, and Mary Herman and Duane (Tina), both of Decorah; 12 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one brother, Virgil (Darlena) Herman of Waukon; four sisters, Lillian (Hilmen) Chistianson of Waukon, Shirley (Charles) Rosendahl of La Crescent, MN, Arleen (Larry) McGuire of Hiawatha and Maggie Kruse of Eitzen, MN; and his brothers- and sisters-in-law, Anaruth Bechtel, Ione Rema and Clifton (Charlotte) Christianson, all of Waukon, Carmen (Marge) Christianson of Preston, MN, Norman (Gayle) Christianson of Vallejo, CA, Vivian (Dave) Benjergerdes of Postville and Virgil Christianson of Waukon.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his father- and mother-in-law, Andrew and Hilma Christianson; a son, David, in infancy; a granddaughter, Tammy Slaght; and three brothers-in-law, Del Kruse, Karl Bechtel and Norman Rema.

Honorary casketbearers were Virgil Christianson, Jim and Elenora Klenske, Kathy Skewes, Rita Votsmier, and Lyle and Marilyn Larson. Casketbearers were Josh and Jesse Herman, Phil Gugliuzza, Tim Kelly, Kevin Fossum, Nancy Kruse, Lori Rosendahl and Jeff McGuire.

Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.