MASON CITY — Howard E. Query, a longtime North Iowa newspaper publisher, community leader and devoted family man, has died at age 62. Query died Tuesday, September 22, 2015, at Mercy Medical Center–North Iowa.
A gathering of family and friends will be held from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. Sunday, September 27, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue in Mason City.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, September 28, at the funeral home, with the Rev. Rob Jadrnicek of Lifepoint Church in Wisconsin officiating. Inurnment will take place at Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Howard Query Memorial Fund in care of the family.
Howard Eugene Query Jr. was born December 3, 1952, at Burtonwood Air Force Base in Warrington, England, to Howard Eugene Sr. and Lilian Bates Query. His family moved to Mason City when he was nine months old, and he graduated from Mason City High School in 1971.
Howard married Mary Lou Brinkman on October 16, 1971, at the First United Methodist Church Wayside Chapel in Mason City.
His working life began at Country Kitchen in Mason City, where he became assistant manager before managing restaurants in Des Moines, Clinton and Dubuque. He later joined Lee Enterprises and began a lengthy newspaper career with the Globe Gazette as an advertising consultant.
Howard rose through the company as classified advertising manager and advertising director. After spending eight years as classified advertising manager for the Quad-City Times in Davenport, he returned to North Iowa in 1995 to become publisher of the Globe Gazette.
In that position, Howard also oversaw the Britt News Tribune, Mitchell County Press-News and Forest City Summit. The Iowa Press Association honored him with its Master Editor-Publisher Award in 2008. In 2011, the community selected him to serve as grand marshal of the North Iowa Band Festival.
Howard’s influence reached far beyond the newspaper business. He served numerous community organizations, including the Lee Endowment Foundation, Muse-Norris Charitable Foundation, YMCA, Mercy Hospital Foundation, Christmas Cheer Fund, Mason City Chamber of Commerce, Iowa Newspaper Association, North Iowa American Cancer Society and Mason City Economic Development Corporation.
A cancer survivor since 1992, Howard served as honorary chairman of the Cerro Gordo Relay for Life in 2000.
Away from work and community service, Howard treasured time with his family, especially his grandchildren. He enjoyed grilling and barbecue, photography, road trips, movies and the music of the Beatles. He collected John Wayne, Superman and Volkswagen memorabilia and served as a past president of the Vintage Volkswagen Club of America.
Howard is survived by his wife of 43 years, Mary Lou Query of Mason City; three children, Jason Query and wife Jenny of Lincoln, Nebraska, Justin Howard Query and longtime girlfriend Diana Mondragon of Aurora, Illinois, and Jessica Romans and husband Timothy of New Boston, Texas; four grandchildren, Reece W. Romans, Graycen C. Romans, Landen T. Romans and Aurora B. Query; his mother, Lilian Query of Mason City; and his sister, Julie Broome and husband Wayne of Mason City.
He is also survived by uncles Peter Bates and Dean Shunkwiler; aunt Gwen Miller and husband Francis; sister-in-law Deb Wyatt and husband John; brother-in-law Sam Brinkman; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Howard was preceded in death by his father; two grandchildren, Caitlin Query and Xander Query; his father-in-law, Howard Brinkman; mother-in-law, Betty Brinkman; and stepfather-in-law, Devoe Hedrick.
Major Erickson Funeral Home and Crematory is handling arrangements. To read more and see the full obituary, please click here.
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