John Louis Harms entered his eternal life January 26, 2025. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 31, 2025, at Dumont New Hope United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. John will be laid to rest at the Oak Hill Cemetery in rural Bristow. Woodley Funeral Home of Dumont is caring for John and his family.
John was born August 24, 1928, to Lupke and Hannah (Eilers) Harms in Kesley, lowa, and lived there until the family moved to Bristow. He graduated from Bristow High School in 1947 and spent some time in Washington, D.C. working for the FBI offices. He served in the U.S. Army from 1951-1953, serving in Germany during the Korean War.
He married Marilyn Stoa on July 8, 1953, in Hatton, North Dakota. They lived in Bristow for nearly 70 years, before moving to Grand JiVante in Ackley. John worked at Bristow Hardware, Kerr McGee Fertilizer Plant, Fischel Construction, lumber yards in Allison and Hampton, Kreiner Brothers lmplement, and Bob’s Feed and Seed. He also helped numerous farmers in the area.
John enjoyed fishing, hunting, bowling, card games, and entertaining his grandchildren and other youngsters. He was a member of Dumont United Methodist Church, serving in several capacities…including always having peppermints for the Sunday School children. He is past Commander of the Bristow AmVets and enjoyed the responsibility of making sure the rifles and flags were ready for Memorial Day. John also served as a volunteer fireman for many years.
Survivors include his wife, Marilyn; children Jennifer (Vicky Foresman) Roberts, Valerie (Larry) Wiegmann, Tracy (Jeff) Baltes and Tim (Brenda) Harms; eleven grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Preceding him in death are his parents, three sisters, and a granddaughter.
Memorials may be directed to the Allison AmVets.
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