Howard Bless, 87, of St. Ansgar, Iowa, died June 23, 2011, at his home.

Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Monday, June 27, 2011, at First Lutheran Church, St. Ansgar with Rev. Robert Porisch officiating. Burial will be in St. Peter Cemetery, Toeterville, Iowa. Visitation will be 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, June 26, at Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, 207 S. School Street, St. Ansgar. Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, St. Ansgar is in charge of arrangements. (641) 713-4920.

Howard Louis Bless was born Feb. 3, 1924, in Worth County, Iowa, to Clarence C. and Dora R. (Hartwig) Bless. He was baptized at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Rock Township, Mitchell County, Iowa, and confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church, St. Ansgar. He graduated from St. Ansgar High School in 1941.

He served in the Armed Forces from November 1944 to August 1946. After returning, he farmed with his dad and brother, Darold in the Toeterville area, which he continued until his retirement in 1998, moving to St. Ansgar in November 1991.

He was married to Marion G. Thompson of London, Minn., on June 14, 1952, in a double wedding with his brother Darold and Marion’s sister, Helen, at Deer Creek Lutheran Church, Carpenter, Iowa. She was a loving wife and mother, a great partner.

He served his church and community in many ways. At church, he was a Sunday school teacher and Superintendent for more than 25 years. He was church chairman several different times and on the board of Deacons. In the community, he served on the Toeterville Elevator board, Mitchell County Farm Bureau and Township Chairman, Mitchell County Extension Council, Dairy Herdsman of Iowa Board, Cedar Valley Credit Union, Cedar Valley Minute Man Board, Sons of Norway and St. Ansgar Maple Manor Board. Howard enjoyed fishing, bowling, playing pool and cards, especially with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, playing fast-pitch softball in his younger days and in later years, baking cookies.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother; sister; three sisters-in-law; two brothers-in-law.

Howard is survived by his wife, Marion of St. Ansgar; son, Larry (Julie) Bless of St. Ansgar, two daughters, Lynne (Don) Rustvold of Audubon, Iowa, and Larae (Richard) Boatman of Eldora, Iowa; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; one sister, Doreen (Carl) Finnesgaard of Kenyon, Minn.; brother-in-law, Donald Morasch of Osage.