Cloy W. Hirt, 97, Hartley

Cloy William Hirt, the son of Walter and Anna Goering Hirt, was born at the farm of his grandparents, George and Bertha Hirt, near Hartley in O’Brien County, Iowa, on June 10, 1924. Cloy passed away at the Hartley Community Memorial Health Center on April 6, 2022, at the age of 97 years and nine months.

At the age of 5, he moved with his family to the farm his parents had purchased on Highway 18 east of Hartley. He graduated from Hartley High School in 1941 and continued to farm with his father for several years. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hartley.

On April 9, 1944, he and Betty Brehmer were married. They farmed south of Hartley for 10 years before purchasing their own farm two miles north of Moneta. Thirty-five years later they retired from farming and moved to the home they had built on West Okoboji Harbor at the Iowa Great Lakes. They became members of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake.

Cloy was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Dale and Blaine; sister, Ruth Ann; brother-in-law, Dr. Duane Wehler; sister-in-law, Kathryn Jane Hirt; niece, Lisa Bojens; three nephews: Bradley Hirt, Markham Hirt and Bill Wehler; and a great-grandson, Caden Diersen.

Survivors include his wife of 78 years, Betty; two daughters and their husbands: Jennene and Glenn Maurer, of Sheldon, and Jeri and James Potter, of Clear Lake; four grandchildren: Chad Maurer; Erin (Maurer) Curry and her husband, Douglas; Jason Potter and his wife, Kristy; and Andrea Potter; one sister, Konnie Bojens and her husband, Roger; sister-in-law, Dorothy Hirt; eight great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

As per his wishes, Cloy has been cremated and held until that day when his sweetheart, Betty, can join him in their final journey together.