Harold E. 'Hap' Thorne, 90, Hartley

A funeral service for Harold E. “Hap” Thorne was held Monday, Nov. 20, 2023, at the Everly United Methodist Church. Pastor Michael Eeten officiated.

Pallbearers were Kevin Mertens, Gene Fliss, Dave Morrissey, Gregg Fliss, David Rayner and John Thorne. Military graveside rites were conducted by Everly American Legion, Everett P. Boyles, Jr. Post #414. Interment was in Lone Tree Cemetery near Everly. Hartley Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.

Harold Edward “Hap” Thorne, son of John Robert “Bob” and Dollie (Lorenzen) Thorne, was born Aug. 4, 1933, on a farm near Moneta in Lone Tree Township. He spent his youth in the Moneta area where he received his education, graduating from Moneta High School with the Class of 1951.

Hap was united in marriage to Charlotte Lavonne Fliss on May 28, 1953, at Jackson, Minn. In June of the same year he began serving his country with the United States Army, being stationed at Fort Sill, Okla. He and Charlotte lived there for one year before Hap’s tour of duty took him to Japan in 1954. Their first child, Susan, had just been born.

Following his honorable discharge on May 6, 1955, he and Charlotte returned to Iowa and began farming south of Lake Park. They relocated to a farm south of Moneta in 1959 and called it “home” for the remainder of their married lives. Four children would complete their family: Susan, Steven, Denise and Michael.

Throughout his agricultural career, Hap had raised cattle and hogs as well as row crops of corn and soybeans. Along with his farming operation he also managed a Caterpillar bulldozing business with his dad, J.R. Thorne, until 1983.

Hap had given back to his community by serving on the boards of the Everly Community School, and the Royal Telephone Company from 1982 until 2015. He belonged to the American Legion Post at Everly and had also been a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church in Everly. In his spare time he enjoyed being out on the golf course or using his woodworking skills crafting special pieces for family and friends.

On Friday, Nov. 10, 2023, Hap was once again joined with loved ones who had gone before. He was 90 years of age. Preceding him were his wife, Charlotte (2021); his parents, Bob and Dollie Thorne; brothers: Bernard Thorne and Herbert Thorne; and his sisters and husbands: Helen (Don) Baumeister and Marjorie (Darrell) Scharnberg.

Left to cherish his memory are his children: Susan (James) Williams, of Racine Wis.; Steven Thorne, of Hartley; Denise (Dave) Morrissey, of Urbandale; and Michael Thorne, of Hartley; nine grandchildren: Melissa (Nick) Helt, Danielle (Luke) Kosterman, Whitney (Scott) Engelke, Lisa (Erik) Smith, Racheal (Nate) Westhoff, Alex (Larissa) Thorne, Sara Morrissey, Eric Thorne and Kaitlyn Williams; 17 great-grandchildren: Killian, Elaine and Grayson Helt, Cole and Zachery Kosterman, Brooklyn, Kyle and Wyatt Smith, Ethan Thorne and Elowyn and Everett Engelke, Connor, Collin and Anna Westhoff, Anthony and Hannah Thorne, and Harvey Yang; one sister-in-law, Arleen Thorne, of Alva, Okla.; other relatives and many friends.