Howard N. Ness

PRIMGHAR, Iowa -- Howard N. Ness, 72, of Primghar, formerly of Decorah, Iowa, passed away Sunday, July 24, 2011, at a Sioux City hospital following a sudden illness. Services will be 7 p.m. Thursday, July 28, 2011 at Grace Lutheran Church in Primghar, with Pastors Kim and Trudy Petersen officiating. Additional services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3, at Decorah Lutheran Church. Arrangements are under the direction of Nelson-Berger Northside Chapel in Sioux City. Howard Nathan Ness, along with his twin sister, Helen Naomi, was born Aug. 1, 1938, on the family farm near Waterville, Iowa, the son of Lester and Meta (Schmieden) Ness. He was baptized and confirmed at Old West Paint Lutheran Church near Waterville. Howard graduated from Waterville Consolidated School and Luther College in Decorah. He served as a sergeant in the U.S. Army Reserves in Decorah. On Sept. 1, 1963, Howard and Carol Ann Lennon were united in marriage at Decorah Lutheran Church. The couple made their home in the country near Decorah. Carol passed away in 2000. On May 19, 2005, Howard married Marjorie Bickner at Decorah Lutheran Church. They made their home in Primghar. He worked for Combine Insurance, Beneficial Finance and Winneshiek County Maintenance. Howard was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Primghar, where he served as janitor. He was a member of SEMBA, SPIGMA and Fox and Coon Club. Howard loved bowling, Wyoming elk and deer hunting, all kinds of Iowa hunting and fishing, traveling, playing bluegrass music and cooking lefse and lutefisk. Many memories were made on trips to the lake with his grandchildren for camping, music and fun. While living in Decorah, he played music with many friends at nursing homes and enjoyed jam sessions at his home with friends. In Primghar, he played bass guitar with Lori Key and other bluegrass bands. They entertained at several nursing homes and birthday parties in Primghar. For many years he emceed at several bluegrass festivals in Minnesota and Iowa. Survivors include his wife, Marjorie of Primghar; two sons, Chris of Decorah and Paul of Rosemount, Minn.; a daughter, Laurie (Michael) Parker of Rochester, Minn.; five grandchildren, Adam, Hannah and Caitlin Ness of Rosemount and Emily and Amanda Parker of Rochester; three stepdaughters, Angie (Ira) Gaver of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Tammy (Jeremy) Christopherson of Sioux Falls, S.D., and Christie Miller of Decatur, Ill.; three stepgrandchildren, Jakob and Elle Christopherson and Adeline Gaver; a sister, Leona (Vic) Diercksen of Marion, Iowa; his twin sister, Helen Weselmann of Decorah; and a brother, Sigurd (Barbara) Ness of Waukon, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Carol; his mother-in-law, Corolla Lennon; a daughter-in-law, Heidi Ness; and a brother-in-law, Loren Weselmann.