George W. Henning

George Willard Henning, 86, Jefferson, eldest son of Wilbur G and Hannah (Shaffer) Henning, was born Nov 1, 1922 near Scranton, IA. He died Dec 11, 2008 at Mercy Medical, DM, IA. George attended elementary school in Scranton, high school in Bayard, graduated 1939. From 1942 -1945, he served in Battalion Maintenance for tank forces of the Liberators of the14th Armored Division, U.S. Army, in France and Germany, WWII. He kept in lifelong touch with his Army buddies and worked with local American Legionnaires to obtain a vintage tank for display in Jefferson. George met Beatrice Minnehan just before induction and married on April 23, 1946. They were parents to six daughters: Christina, Claudia, Carlotta, Anita, Ethyl and Amy. George and Bea celebrated 40 years of marriage before she was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease. George tenderly cared for Beatrice before she died in 1988. George and Bea raised their family on their farm, "Pauper's Gulch" SE of Jefferson. He was one of the first in Greene County to use contour farming soil conservation practices. Active in Farm Bureau in the 70's- 80's, he served as county president and legislative representative. After retiring in 1986, George turned operations over to his farmers, Jerry Peckumn and Quentin Minnehan. He enjoyed mentoring and working with them. In 1994, George married Doloris (Dodie) Kroupa, widow of a POW from a prison liberated by the 14th Armored. The two enjoyed retirement and traveled extensively. Dodie died in 1999. Her children remained important in his life. On Feb 14, 2000, he married Roberta Brown from Scranton. They shared farming interests, dancing and music, community activities and many trips. George and Roberta enjoyed family celebrations, grand- and great- grand-children's activities and supported each other through surgeries and loss of his youngest daughter, Amy, in 2006. In his 40s, he took flying lessons, owned a Cardinal Cessna, served as president of Greene County Flying Farmers and kept his pilot's license and plane well into his 70s. George enjoyed music and dancing and treasured memories of his birthday parties and Super Cooper's Proms. An encouraging parent and grandparent, George insisted on values of fairness, honesty and thrift. He honored his families' histories, keeping connections alive through the generations. To the end, he asked about grain markets, the price of gas and John Deere stock, the headlines in the DM Register and the latest news of the extended family and friends. George often declared himself the luckiest man alive to have had three such wonderful wives and families. He had a great memory for names, never knew a stranger, and was good neighbor and good friend to many. He hoped that people would remember him as an honorable man. He was preceded in death by his parents; wives Beatrice and Dodie; daughter Amy Henning Clifton; brothers, Marvin, Wendell and Ernest Henning; sons-in-law Tom Wilde and Max Cooklin. He is survived by his wife, Roberta Brown-Henning; daughters: Christina Henning, Claudia Henning, Carlotta Wilde, Anita Tigue and Ethyl St. Peter; sons-in-law: Richard Wilkey, Patrick Tigue, Keith St.Peter, David Clifton; Roberta's sons and their families: Courtney (Carol) Brown; Colin (Karen) Brown, Christopher (Veronica) Brown; brothers: Donald (Virginia) Henning, Allen (Betty) Henning; sister Phyllis (Robert) Tiefenthaler; sisters-in-law: LaVerne Henning, Janette Henning (Willard) Hostetler, Marylund Henning; grandchildren: Angela Harmer, Scott Harmer, Andrea (Kirk) Klopfenstein, Nicole German, Michelle (Clay) Hosteter, Rose (Brian) Lacey, Seth Wilde, Ryan and Casey Tigue, Denise (John Henry) Muller, Annette St. Peter, Stephanie (Brad) Ferguson; great-grand children: Courtney, Kiera, Kendra and Caden Klopfenstein, Isaiah and Annora Muller, Ethan Lacey; nieces, nephews, cousins and their families and countless friends. Remembrance Services held on December 17, 2008 at Hastings Funeral Home in Jefferson, IA. Interment at the Scranton Township Cemetery, Scranton, IA. www.hastingsfh.com