Harold E. Dillinger

Harold E. Dillinger, 91, of Peru, died Monday, November 29, 2021 at Azria Health Winterset. Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m., December 4, 2021, at the Peru United Methodist Church. Family will greet friends from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Friday, December 3, at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home Winterset Chapel. Burial will be in the Peru Cemetery. Memorials will be directed to EveryStep Hospice, MCFFE (the new Madison County Conservation Center), or Peru United Methodist Church. Harold was born near Exira, Iowa on December 8, 1929, the son of Verl and Inez (Amerine) Dillinger. He was a 1947 graduate of Winterset High School (first class out of Peru High School to go to Winterset). He married Bulah “Blue” Bell Bond on December 17, 1950 at the Peru United Methodist Church. He was a lifelong resident of Peru. He started out as a dispatcher for the Burlington Northern Railroad in SW Iowa and then returned to Peru to farm. He belonged to the Odd Fellows Lodge when it was in Winterset. He helped with the Peru Boy Scouts, taking them on many fishing trips to Minnesota. He enjoyed fishing, bowling, playing pool and cribbage. He and Blue went to the southern tip of Texas for the winters, and he continued to do so by himself for several years. Harold and Blue also enjoyed taking the grandkids on summer vacations, traveling to many different locations. In 1995, he and Travis rode RAGBRAI, doing the complete route including the century loop while Blue drove a motorhome for them to sleep in every night. Harold is survived by his daughters, Kathryn (Gary) Armstrong of Mediapolis and Dorothy (Kim) Frease of Winterset; siblings, Marilyn Hull of Van Meter, Larry (Linda) Dillinger of Winterset, and Bill (Annette) Dillinger of Peru; grandchildren, Thomas, Brody, and Crystal Armstrong and Travis Kirk; step grandsons, Jeremey Frease and Chad Frease; step granddaughters, Stacey Anderson, Amy Armstrong, and Dehlia Armstrong; and twelve great grandchildren. Also survived by many nieces and nephews. Harold was preceded in death by his parents, Verl and Inez (Amerine) Dillinger; wife, Blue Dillinger; and brothers and their wives, Robert (Margaret) Dillinger, Richard (Lois) Dillinger, and Donald (Carolyn) Dillinger.