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Howard Franklin Higley, 95, of Dubuque, Iowa, passed away peacefully at home on March 16, 2018. Following his wishes, private family services were held with burial at Linwood Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held in June close to what would have been his 96th birthday which will include family and friends.
Howard was born in Dubuque on June 11, 1922, to Howard Woodruff and Margaret (Fosselman) Higley. He graduated from Dubuque Senior High School. Howard enlisted in the army during WW ll, and completed training for the signal corp at Northern State University, Aberdeen, S. D.
He achieved the rank of Sergeant while serving in the Army signal corps in both the European and Pacific theaters of war, and completed his education with a Bachelor degree from the University of Dubuque.
He married Joan K Curtis, Dec 30, 1950, in front of the fireplace of their newly built home. Howard and his brother John and their partner Ed Meyer owned Higley Meyer Electric Company.
Howard and Joan instilled a love of the outdoors and nature in their three children, Howard Roy, Mary Jo, and Jan. He and Joan enjoyed their cottage at Fentress Lake and took their children on numerous car trip adventures all over the United States and Canada. They also traveled with the Iowa Mountaineers and hiked locally with the Mississippi Trails Club. Howard, as a 53 year member, held the title for most lifelong hikes for several years. After their children were off to college Howard and Joan traveled the world over with the Iowa Mountaineers, and attended numerous Elder Hostels. Howard traveled Europe, climbed Kilimanjaro in Africa, and Machu Picchu in Peru, toured Egypt and the Holy Land, Russia and even got to Cuba. For many years he and Joan wintered in McAllen, Texas and helped across the border with Children's Haven International, where they sponsored a young girl, Nora Rios (Gonzalez) who is now married with children of her own and thought of Howard and Joan as beloved grandparents. Howard was always busy, trying new activities and was very artistic and creative; painting, sketching, sculpting and exploring modern art. He was an avid reader, reading 2 or three books a week, mostly historical nonfiction. He was a lover of dachshunds with his latest, Flash, who followed him around the house and slept " right under his arm" each night.
Howard was on the ground floor of helping organize the Dubuque Historical Society and the Friends of the Mines of Spain. He was a member of the Board of Four Mounds, a volunteer with Friends of Carnegie Stout Library and active in the Rotary Club, Dubuque Businessmen's Association, and Dubuque Audubon Society. He was a longtime member, of Gracepoint Presbyterian church,( formerly, Third Presbyterian church).
Howard was a beloved father, grandfather, uncle, brother-in- law, and friend, who will be truly missed by all who loved him. We will remember his wonderful smile, his boundless energy and his zest for life.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Joan, brother John Higley, and sister and brother- in-law Marge and Dick Schaefer, sister-in-laws and brother-in -laws, Judy (Curtis) and George Meyer, Joyce (Curtis) and Bob Wollschlager, Janet (Curtis) and Bill Marshall, Bernie and Albert Curtis, brother-in-law, Bob Jaeggi, and granddaughter, Jillian Zivojnovich.
He is survived by his three children, Howard Roy (Louise Katz) Higley, of Mountain View , Calif ,Mary Jo ( Barry) Shear, of Hazel Green, Wisc. Jan(Clark) Zivojnovich, of Dubuque, grandchildren, Adam, Grant, Danny ( Mandi Flick) Zivojnovich, Tom (Danika) Zivojnovich. Alex Shear( Amanda Montufar), Matt Shear( Danguole Abierne), Johanna (Adam) Swartzendruber, Gailan ( Eric) Hoffer, Nathaniel Higley, and Sara Higley, sisters- in-Law, Joan G Higley, Jeanie Jaeggi, and Jane Leibold. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Special thanks for the wonderful, loving care from caregivers at," No Place like Home" and to Danguole Abierne.
Memorials may be given to Friends of the Mines of Spain, Friends of the Carnegie Stout Library, Grace Point Presbyterian Church, Children's Haven International, or Dubuque Historical Society.