Howard R. Scherner

SIOUX CITY | Howard R. Scherner, 83 of Sioux City, passed away Saturday, Dec. 29, 2012, at a local care facility after a yearlong illness. Memorial services will be at 7 p.m. Thursday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel, with the Rev. Scott Squires, pastor of Crescent Park United Methodist Church, officiating. Private family graveside service will be at Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Howard was born April 4, 1929, in James, Iowa. He was the son of Perl R. and Mary J. (Pence) Scherner. Howard graduated from Leeds High School in 1946. He took some computer and accounting classes at Briar Cliff College and then worked for Swift's and Cudahy packing plants in Sioux City and then Omaha. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. Howard returned to Sioux City in 1968 to work for Charlie Zook Dodge for about 20 years and then he worked for Glover Trucking in South Sioux City for about 15 years full time. He then worked part time at Glover Trucking, Ike's Bingo and also did bookkeeping for the three Truck Havens, two in Sioux City and the one in Omaha at night on his home computer, retiring in December 2009 because of poor eyesight. Howard had a wonderful sense of humor and always loved the outdoors, having had a boat on the Missouri River for years. He also enjoyed golf and bowling and played a lot of tennis, but his big love was ballroom dancing. In his younger years, Howard traveled all over the country, to Chicago, Denver and Los Angeles, to dance to famous big bands. In the last 23 years, he enjoyed dancing with his sister, Sally Kimball, in Sioux City and South Sioux City at the Eagles and Mr. Tunes, Sioux Falls, Anthon, Ida Grove (Skate Palace) and Omaha (Peony Park), many times taking their mother with them. Not having been married, Howard was very involved and close to his nieces, Judy Letnes and Vicky Brainerd and his nephew, Craig Kimball. They and their friends thought Uncle Howard was the greatest, always having new cars, one time a convertible, and boating on the Missouri River and Snyder's Bend. Howard enjoyed his three poodles, Suzette, Mindy and the last one, Mandy, who is still living with a friend. Survivors included his sister, Sally Kimball of Sioux City; a half sister, Joellen Scherner of Downey, Calif.; nephews, Craig Kimball and his wife Lori of Fountain, Colo., and Steve Letnes of St. Cloud, Minn; four great-nieces, Jamie, Stephanie, Aubry and Erin; two great-nephews, Rich and Jeff Proctor; 12 great-great-nieces and nephews; several cousins; and many friends. Howard was preceded in death by his parents; and two nieces, Judy Letnes and Vicky Brainerd. Honorary pallbearers will be Dar Hartman, Derrill Townley, Gary Pence, Scott and Jeff Smith and Harry Kouris.