Howard Taylor Sr.

Wednesday, July 15, 2015 4:56 pm

Howard Taylor Sr., 82, of Spillville, died suddenly Monday, June 29, 2015, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester, Minn. Mass of Christian Burial was at 11 a.m. Friday, July 3, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Spillville, with Rev. Donald Hawes officiating. Lector was Judy Adams. Servers were Benjamin and Isaac Snyder and Zachary Taylor. Offertory gift bearers were Howard’s daughters. Music included  “Close The Gate” (Kristin Olmstead), Jim Busta and the St. Wenceslaus Choir. Organist was Doris Thompson. Soloist was Dan Silhacek. Hymns were  “Here I Am, Lord,” “Amazing Grace,” “On Eagle’s Wings,” “Goin’ Home” and “How Great Thou Art.” Eucharistic ministers were Helen Pinter, Denise Ryant and Judy Adams. Casket bearers were Howard’s sons. Interment was at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Cemetery, Spillville. Arrangements were handled by Balik Funeral Home, Spillville.
Howard Franklin Taylor was born March 26, 1933, to John and Christina (Jarosh) Taylor on the farm southwest of Spillville. He attended Winneshiek County Country School and farmed with his parents. Howard was united in marriage to Clarabelle Hackman May 31, 1955, at St. Luke’s Catholic Church in St. Lucas. They farmed near Fort Atkinson for many years and then moved to Spillville. After they raised their 11 children, they extended their family by opening the doors of the Taylor Made Bed and Breakfast for an additional 20 years. Howard also worked at NICC in Calmar until retiring in 1998. He loved spending time helping his sons plant corn, cut hay, and working in his large garden. He especially enjoyed day trips to the apple orchards in Wisconsin, going to auctions and day trips with his wife Clarabelle to see his children and grandchildren.
Howard is survived by 11 children: Howard (Laura) Taylor, Jr., Fort Atkinson; Marilyn (Arnold) Huinker, Lakeville, Minn.; Dale Taylor, Tempe, Ariz.; Kay (Kent) Homnick, Pawley’s Island, S.C.; Lyle (Suzanne) Taylor, Spring Valley, Minn.; Joe (Christa) Taylor, Fort Atkinson; Diane (Steve) Snyder, Lanesboro, Minn.; Dennis (Sarah) Taylor, Fort Atkinson; Linda (Mark) Kuennen, Fort Atkinson; Michael Taylor, Spillville; and Kevin Taylor, Rochester, Minn.; 31 grandchildren: Miranda (Jon) Hayek, Renee (Robert) Welter, Heather (Brandon) DeSotel, Vanessa Taylor; Kristin (Mark) Olmstead, Kari (Dan) Gerhart, Bryan (Rachel) Huinker; Holly, Jackson, Madison and Carson Homnick; Michael, Nicholas and Megan Taylor; Tracy (Nate) Leistikow, Tiffany, Felicity, Zachary and Kayley Taylor; Madeline, Emily, Benjamin and Isaac Snyder; Theo and Quinten Taylor; Morgan, Blake and Nathan Kuennen; Carter, Dylan and Austin Taylor; 19 great-grandchildren: Brynlee, Brody and Brogan Hayek; Connor, Nolan and Taylor Welter; Abagail, Olivia, Jameson and Liam DeSotel; Alexis, Brooklyn and Olivia Olmstead; Gavin Gerhart; Ella, Claire and Carver Leistikow; KingSton and Tiarra Taylor; one sister, Arlene Klimesh, Decorah; sisters-in-law: Camilla Taylor, New Hampton, Alberta (LaVerne) Bouska, Lawler, Jeanette (Elmer) Buchheit, Ossian, Mary Ann Hackman, Decorah; along with many nieces, nephews and great- nieces and -nephews.
Howard was preceded in death by his wife, Clarabelle, Feb. 11, 2015; parents, John and Christina (Jarosh) Taylor; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Carl and Mathilda (Schmitt) Hackman; one great-grandson, Michael Joseph Leistikow; sisters, Angie Loesch and Harriet Frana; one brother, Richard Taylor; sisters-in-law, Arlene Bouska and Ann Hackman; brothers-in-law: Louis Loesch, Larry Frana, Stanley Klimesh, Cliff Bouska and George Hackman.