Melvin K. Harms (1924-2007)

SUMMER — Melvin Kyle Hams. 83. of Sumner. died Thursday. March 29. at the Hillcrest Home, Sumner of cancer.

He was born Feb. 3, 1924. near Sumner, in rural Fayette County[, Iowa]. son of William and Laura Waskow Harms. On Aug 8,1948, he married Miriam Sorg at the United Methodist Church in Sumner.

Mr. Harms graduated from Sumner High School in 1941; served in the US. Army Air Corps; then attended Upper Iowa University in Fayette, graduating in 1948. He was a math teacher and head coach at Rolfe for three years. He returned to Sumner in 1951 and had a career in the insurance and real estate business until 1985. He also refereed boys and girls high school athletic events.

He served as president of the Sumner Community Club, Sumner Commercial Club. Sumner Rotary Club and St. John's Lutheran Church congregation; was chairman of the steering committee of the building of the Hillcrest Home; was Hillcrest Home board president; served on the Sumner Volunteer Fire Department: and was director of First National Bank.

Survivors include: his wife: two daughters, Patricia (Stanley) Briggs of Sarasota Fla., and Becky Read of Sumner; four grandchildren: two brothers. Myron (Helen) Harms and Calvin Harms, both of Sumner; and a sister, Virginia Ridge of Sumner.

Preceded in death by: a granddaughter, a sister-in-law, Iris Harms: and two brothers-in-law, Wayne Ridge and John Paul Sorg.

Services: 11 a.m. Monday at St. John Lutheran Church, Sumner, with burial in the church cemetery. Graveside military rites by Thomas E. Woods American Legion Post 223 of Sumner. Public visitation from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home, Sumner. and for an hour before services Monday at the church.

Memorials: may be made to either the church or Veterans Memorial Park in Sumner.