Howard Haney

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Howard Dennis Haney, 88, of Austin died Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009 at Field Crest Care Center in Hayfield, Minn.

Howard was born July 24, 1921 in Winterset, Iowa to Dennis and Atha (Greenfield) Haney. He graduated from Patterson High School in 1939 and from the American Institute of Business of Des Moines in 1941.

In August 1941, during World War II, he enlisted in the Coast Guard, serving off the coast of Washington and California until March of 1946. After the war, he returned to Iowa and then moved to California where he met his wife, Cora Heard. He and Cora were united in marriage on Oct. 26, 1946 at the Presbyterian Church in Monrovia, Calif. In 1947 their daughter Joan was born. Howard and Cora returned to Iowa in April of 1948. In 1952, they moved to Austin where their son Dennis was born. In 1954, their daughter Jean was born. 

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Howard worked for Austin Ready Mix and then Gamble Robinson in the 1950’s delivering produce to area stores. On one trip to New Richland, he noticed a man waving at each passing car. Motorists, not realizing the man’s plight, all waved back and continued on their way until Howard observed his predicament. He stopped and with the aid of a crow-bar, belts and chains, he freed the man from the corn picker. The man said he could not have braced himself a minute longer. 

In 1959, Howard started at the Austin High School in maintenance until retiring in March of 1984.
Howard enjoyed sports, especially the Minnesota Twins, traveling, music, singing and spending time with his grandchildren. He was a member of Crane Chapel for more than 55 years. He was also a member of the Hayfield Amerian Legion.

Survivors included his daughters and sons-in-law, Joan and Dennis Bissen, Austin, Jean and Norbert Eggert, Waltham, Minn.; grandchildren, Brent (Sara) Bissen, Minneapolis, Emily Eggert, Apple Valley, Minn., Betsy Bissen, St. Paul, Minn., Amy Eggert, Bergen, Norway; sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Marion (Don) Ulven,  Buffalo, Mo., Bill Heard, Buffalo, Mo., Jerry (Sue) Heard, Austin, Margaret Kirchner, Dexter, Minn., Dorothy (George) Drinkall, Phillipsburg, Mo., Charlotte Tucker, Burnet, Texas; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Cora in 2005; his son, Dennis; two brothers and one sister.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Crane Community Chapel with the Rev. Dale Christiansen officiating. Visitation will be at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary on Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. and at the church on Thursday for one hour before the service. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery.  Hayfield American Legion post #330 in charge of military rites.

Organist will be Jan Hansen and soloist will be Erin Schumacher.