Harry Maurice Balster

Little Rock, IA Harry Balster age 84 of Little Rock, IA died Monday, January 17, 2010 at Sanford Hospital in Rock Rapids, IA. Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 20th, at First Presbyterian Church in Little Rock, IA with Rev. Scott Burdsall, officiating. Burial will follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery at Little Rock, IA. Visitation will be Wednesday, January 19th at the First Presbyterian Church of Little Rock, IA from 2:00 - 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6:00 " 8:00 p.m. Harry Maurice Balster, son of Ed and Lena (Larson) Balster was born on March 13, 1926 on the home place in Grant Township, west of Little Rock, IA. He received his education in the Grant Township Country School. He was confirmed and joined the First Presbyterian Church in Little Rock in 1941 and was the oldest member of the church. Harry was drafted into the Army in January of 1945 and was honorable discharged with a rank of Tech 4 in December of 1946. On September 24, 1947, Harry was united in marriage to Mabel Stratmeier at the Salem Reformed Church parsonage with Reverend Frank Snuttjer officiating. To this union five children were born. In 1959, Harry and Mabel bought the Balster home farmstead west of Little Rock. Farming was a great love of Harrys, raising cattle and lots of hogs. In 2002, Harry and his family were presented with a Century Farm plaque in Des Moines and Harry was so proud of this accomplishment. Harry was a PRIDE seed corn dealer for twenty-five years. Harry and Mabel did lots of traveling by bus throughout the United States and Canada, and added up 35,000 miles of road time. They really enjoyed traveling and sightseeing. Harry was very civic minded and belonged to the American Legion of Little Rock. He was on the school board for nine years and twenty years on the church board as a Trustee and Elder during the construction of the new church and manse. Harry retired from farming and moved into Little Rock in October of 1988. To keep him busy he bought two rug looms and made hundreds of rugs. He also enjoyed making many, many quilts for missions through the church. He used his hands in woodworking making toys for his grandchildren. He loved to garden and watch the flowers grow. A highlight of 2010 was the family reunion he planned for June 13th attended by all seventy of his immediate family. Harry is survived by his wife of sixty-three years, Mabel Balster; three daughters, Sharon (Richard) Lode of Sioux Rapids, IA, Rosalie (Arlan) Arends of Little Rock, IA and Joyce (Brian) Gengler of Adrian, MN; daughter-in-law, Judy VerMeer of Lester, IA; son-in-law, Donny Fritz of Pipestone, MN; nineteen grandchildren and twenty-seven great-grandchildren; one sister, Elizabeth Tickner of Firth, NE; and many relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his son, Virgil Harris Balster in February of 1973; daughter, Peggy Sue Fritz in July of 2006; parents, Ed and Lena; three brothers, Edward, Alvin and Lyle Balster; and three sisters, Luella Zylstra, Lillian DeYounge and Edna Zylstra. Harry was a kind and generous man, deeply loved by his family. Blessed be his memory. In lieu of flowers family requests memorial be directed to the First Presbyterian Church building fund.