Garth E. Willis, 89

Published by editor on Tue, 06/13/2023 - 2:34pm

Garth E. Willis, 89, of Dows, passed away on Sunday, June 4, 2023 at Rehabilitation Center of Hampton.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00pm on Friday, June 9, 2023 at First Lutheran Church, 206 W Ellsworth Street, Dows, IA. Burial will be in the Fairview Cemetery

in Dows.

Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church on Friday. Garth Eugene Willis, the son of Albert “Lyle” and Margaret (Severe) Willis, was born February 28, 1934, on the family farm home in rural Dows. Garth grew up on the farm where his love and passion for being a farmer began at the young age of seven. He graduated from Dows Community School with the class of 1952.

Garth was united in marriage to Donna Mae Meyer on December 21, 1956 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Hampton. To this union, five children were born. The couple raised their family on the Willis Family Farm where they have lots of fond memories.

He took great pride in the farm and his family. He loved helping his children with their 4-H and FFA projects. He enjoyed taking his grandchildren for four-wheeler rides and giving out hugs whenever he could. When he wasn’t busy on the farm you could find him collecting John Deere toy tractors or asking for “two scoops of vanilla ice cream in a cone.”

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Donna Mae Willis of Dows; children Nancy (Mervin) Levorson of Clarion, Debra (Walt) Storjohann of Bennett, Neil (Becky) Willis of Dows and Karen (Harlan) Howe of Mechanicsville; grandchildren Heather Bear, Valerie Berry, Logan Howe, Greg Storjohann, Mathew Berry, Austin Howe, Ryan Storjohann and Kalyn Moore; great grandchildren Blake, Jase, Ethan, Bentley, Hunter, Walker, Kolson and Tripp; brother Gene (Mary Beth) Willis; sister-in-law Mardean Willis and various nieces, nephews and extended family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Cindy Lou and brother Donald Willis.