Robert D. Haberkorn, 93, of Mason City passed away peacefully Saturday, January 6, 2024 surrounded by family.
Memorial Services will be 11:00am Saturday, January 13, 2024 at Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 3rd St. NE, Mason City, IA. Private inurnment will be in Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service.
Robert Duane was born April 15, 1930 in St. Ansgar, the son of Charles H. and Freda O. (Galloway) Haberkorn. As tenant farmers, the family moved to Floyd where Robert attended High School and met the love of his life, Bonnie Lou Thornbury. On June 27, 1953 the couple was married at the Little Brown Church in Nashua and blessed with three children: Dennis J, Becky S, and Kristi K. They made their home in Mason City where Robert worked at the Ford Dealership, retiring from Don Lafrez Ford on May 30, 1992 after 30 years of service. He and Bonnie celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2023!
Robert, a constant presence in his family’s life, was lovingly known as a Master Builder for his unwavering work ethic. Whether adding rooms to his home in his 70s or supervising projects in his 90s, he was the go-to fixer for everything. Beyond carpentry, he mastered car repairs and painting vehicles, showcasing skills that were bound only by his imagination. Sunday afternoons sharing dinner with the extended family were cherished. Alongside Bonnie, they found joy in their friends and coffee groups and explored the country in their motorhome, journeying from coast to coast and embracing the landscapes of Texas, Florida, and Arizona over the years. From the beginning, the two were inseparable. Whether they were baking apple pies, preparing strawberries, or dancing at the Surf: when you saw one, you saw both. Robert’s community spirit flourished as a longtime member of the First Congregational Church of Christ, the Moose Lodge, and the Senior Center. His legacy, marked by warmth and expertise, extends far beyond the structures he built, leaving cherished memories for all who were fortunate enough to know him.
Surviving are his beloved wife, Bonnie; children, Dennis Haberkorn of Boulder City, NV, Becky (James) Person of Clear Lake, and Kristi (Jeff) Serba of Burnsville, MN; grandchildren, Shawn Person, Sarah Hansen, Abby Arthur, Katelyn Hilton, Sarah Suter, Brent Haberkorn, Chad Serba, and Chelsi Serba; five great-grandchildren; a great-great grandchild; many cherished nieces and nephews; brothers, Dean Haberkorn and Lloyd (Jan) Haberkorn; as well as extended family members.
Preceding him in death are his daughter-in-law, Marsha Haberkorn; parents; siblings, Betty (Barney) Anderson and Clayton (Betty) Haberkorn; and an infant grandson, Patrick.
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