Hollis Havens

Hollis L. Havens, 92, of Steamboat Rock, Iowa died from natural causes on Friday, June 20, 2008 at The Presbyterian Village in Ackley, Iowa. Funeral services will be at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, June 24 at the Steamboat Rock Baptist Church with Pastor Harrison Lippert officiating. Burial will follow in the Steamboat Rock Cemetery with military honors provided by Hoover-Eiserman American Legion Post #542. Visitation will be at the church from 12:30 pm on Tuesday until service time. Memorials may be directed to the Steamboat Rock Cemetery Veteran’s Memorial Fund.

Hollis was born October 14, 1915, in a farm house south east of Steamboat Rock, son of Benjamin and Rena (Folkerts) Havens. He was raised on several farms in Hardin and Franklin Counties and attended five country schools and three high schools before graduating from Steamboat Rock High School in 1934. Hollis worked at several jobs for the next two years then enlisted in the U.S. Navy. On August 20, 1938 he was united in marriage to Meta Mae Gellhorn in Vallejo, California while stationed in San Diego. He was a survivor of the attack on Pearl Harbor witnessing the Japanese bombers flying over his ship. He was a veteran of both WWII and the Korean Conflict attaining the rank of ensign. He retired from the Navy on May 5, 1956.

Hollis started and operated Havens Electric Service, and the business has continued from father to son for fifty years. He was a member of the Steamboat Rock Baptist Church and Hoover-Eiserman Post #542 of the American Legion, and served on various boards and committees including the Steamboat Rock School Board, Boat Club, Library Board, Senior Citizens Home, taught adult education, was a member of the Steamboat Rock Volunteer Fire Department, served as Civil Director, Hardin County Radiation Detection Officer, and Civil Defense Director. Hollis spent his retirement years hunting and fishing, and he skied at the Afton Alps in Minnesota well into his eighties. He was recognized as the slopes oldest skier and was not charged when he took to the slopes.

Surviving is his wife, Meta Mae; children, Larry and Barbara Havens of Steamboat Rock, Charlotte and Les Farago of Afton, Minnesota, Janet and Terry Folkerts of Klemme, and Robert and Barb Havens of Cedar Falls; brothers, John Havens of Long Meadow, Massachusetts and Joe Havens of Fitzgerald, Georgia; and by eight grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Mary Ellen Bye; brother, Eldon Havens; and grandson, Shane Havens.