A funeral service will be held 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 17, 2014, at the Gilman United Church of Christ with the Rev. Judy K. Brandon officiating. Interment with military honors will be at Prairie View Cemetery in Gilman.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday at the Smith Funeral Home in Grinnell with the family present to greet friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Friday evening.

Memorials may be designated in his name to Iowa River Hospice and mailed in care of the Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, Iowa 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.smithfh.com.

Harley Raymond Everts was born the son of Barkley McDaniel Everts and Margaret Esther (Barnes) Everts on September 5, 1934, in Grinnell, Iowa. He was raised on the family farm west of Gilman and graduated with the Gilman High School class of 1952. In 1955, he honorably served in the United States Army and graduated as a superior student in demolitions, mines, and booby traps from an army engineering school. He served with Company A 41st Engineering Batallion 10th Division, U.S. Army in Germany. Prior to the Berlin Airlift he was stationed on the “Iron Curtain” on the German border with orders to blow up bridges if Russian troops advance in to West Germany. He received an honorable discharge in 1958.

He was united in marriage to Janice Mardell Medhus on July 3, 1955, at the Gilman Community Church. At the time of their marriage, Harley was stationed at Ft. Riley near Ogden, Kansas. After Harleys’ Honorable discharge from the service they then move and made their home southwest of Gilman, where they farmed. They lived there for 26 years before moving to their current farm northeast of Gilman, where they have lived for the last 30 years.

Harley was family man, a man of faith, and a good friend to those close to him. He had a passion for farming, for which he was blessed to do for nearly 60 years. He raised Angus cattle for many years and later Chianina Angus cross breed cattle. His enjoyments included attending his children’s and grandchildren’s activities, hunting and fishing, square and round dancing.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Janice Everts of Gilman; son, Michael Everts of Gilman; daughter, Marcia (Denny) Burgess of Gilman; 4 grandchildren, Matthew (Stefanie) Everts of Moberly, Missouri; Michela (John) Augustine of Marshalltown; Krista Oliver of Ames; and Chad (Rachel) Burgess of Ankeny; 4 great grandchildren, Skyler and Samantha Everts of Moberly, Missouri, and Maggie and Ava Augustine of Marshalltown; nieces and nephews, Lorrie Massengale Stringham, Pam Massengale Taylor, Debra Massengale Wacha, Lee Massengale, and Jimmy Massengale.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Margaret Elaine Massengale.