Harry W. Robbins Sr.
Harry William Robbins Sr., 89, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, at his home in rural Pony Hollow, after a diagnosis of colon cancer of six months, with Gloria, Lyle Jr., and St. Croix Hospice providing comfort.
Funeral services were Tuesday, Nov. 26, at Peace United Church of Christ in Elkader. Visitation was before services at the church.
Burial was at Mederville Cemetery near Elkader.
Harry was born on April 11, 1935, west of Edgewood, on their farm, to Gladys Ellen (Hammond) and John William Robbins.
Harry attended Hewitt Creek and then Mederville Country Schools, where he graduated from eighth grade. He then attended Strawberry Point High School and Central Elkader for two years. He was in the Class of 1955. Growing up, Harry worked with his dad on the family farm near Mederville and for the neighbors. He was baptized and was a member of the United Methodist Church in Strawberry Point. He was a proud member of the FFA in high school. He was in the 133rd Infantry of the National Guard in Oelwein. He served and received an honorable discharge on Jan. 26, 1955. He married Carol Faye Coon in September 1955, and to this union, five children were born; three sons and two daughters, before they later divorced. He married Gloria on April 13, 1984, and they raised her children, Lylina and Lyle Jr. A wide array of talents and occupations filled Harry’s life. He operated D7 and D8 dozers for Harold Hartman Quarries, while also hauling rocks and lime, and combined beans, oats, and corn.
Harry was an avid carpenter, welder, and builder, and knew how to do electrical and plumbing work. In Pony Hollow, he and his family built a 24’ x 36’ 3-stall garage, a 24’ x 18’ tractor shed, and a 10’x24’ small building. Raising and teaching his children was important to him, like how to hunt, fish, play ball, ride bikes, drive a car, truck, and even a motorcycle. He was proud to work at the National Cattle Congress in Waterloo, from 1955 to 1956. He had a highlight of his life when he met Loretta Lynn there. Harry learned about canned milk hauling with Uncle Bernard Hammond. When he became self-employed, he hauled canned milk to Greeley Creamery. Later, he added bulk milk hauling to his canned milk route, and he also farmed his acreage near Mederville, for seven years. In 1975, after a year-long head injury, which caused him to sell his milk trucks and business, he was employed at Clayton County Secondary Roads for twenty-two and a half years, where he operated snowplows, gravel trucks, and maintained and mowed the pavement, before retiring in June of 1997.
Harry collected belt buckles, bola ties, and all sorts of ball caps. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, going to car and truck shows, going on car cruises, and going to antique and farm sales. He enjoyed the Chicago Cubs Baseball, the Field of Dreams, which starred Kevin Costner, 25th Anniversary in Dyersville. He also enjoyed decorating their 75-foot steel wheel fence, which he designed and welded an eight-foot cross and star, lighting for holidays, which stood twelve feet in the air on the fence post. Going to local events and visiting with people was one of several highlights in his life, including the Delaware County Fair, the Garnavillo 4th of July, Elkader’s Sweet Corn Days, the Clayton County Fair, the NEIAA Plagman Barn, and finishing with Osborne Heritage Days, which he accomplished all this year, despite his cancer. He loved watching Western TV shows and John Wayne movies. He also enjoyed listening to country music, bluegrass, gospel, Joel Osteen, and the Life 101.9 Christian Radio. He and Gloria loved camping, dancing to the Sounds of Nashville, gardening, his Farmall 460, playing Monopoly and Uno, cooking, baking, and living in Pony Hollow.
Harry’s key highlight in life was his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, whom he loved dearly and prayed for earnestly.
Harry is survived by his wife of 40 years and seven months, Gloria Ann; sons, Lyle Sr. (Val) Robbins of Anita, Harry “Bud” Jr. (Paulette) Robbins of Cheney, Wash., and Lyle R. (Stacy) Robbins Jr. of Dyersville; daughters, Sadie Ellen Robbins of Mesa, Ariz., and Bonnie Ann Stifel of Postville; grandchildren, Erin Jo Dittmer Hauser, Luke, Natalie, Alyssa, Ezra Robbins, Buddy Robbins, Bobby (Alysha) Robbins, Brandy (Damon) Casket, Adam (Jen) Crane, Mariya (Tim) Raborn, Ashley (Lori) Beckman, Amber Santoyo, Pixly Robbins, Lawrence Robbins, Chuck (Andi) Kinzie, Donnie (Kim) Kinzie, Angel Kinzie, and B.J. Kinzie; sister, Celia Proctor of Neosho, Mo.; sisters-in-law, Lorraine LaGrange of Cedar Rapids, Carol Gibbs of Monticello, and Barb Gibbs of Waterloo; brother-in-law, Joe Marrah of DeLand, Fla.; 42 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Harry was preceded in death by his parents; son, John Paul; granddaughter, Lylina Ann (Robbins) Dittmer; grandsons, Cheyenne Robbins, and Willy Crane; grandson-in-law, Doug Dittmer; sisters, Martha Marrah and Cleo Nightingale; and brothers-in-law, Lavern and Melvin Gibbs, Dale Nightingale, and Dean Proctor.
Morris Funeral Home in Guttenberg is assisting the family and information is available at www.morrisfuneralhomes.com. Memorials may be sent to Morris Funeral Home (in care of the deceased), 207 S. First St., Guttenberg, IA 52052.
