Harry Moffet

May 31, 1920 - May 28, 2019

Harry Moffet, 98, of Oskaloosa and formerly of rural Leighton, died Tuesday, May 28, 2019, at the Northern Mahaska Nursing and Rehab Center in Oskaloosa. He was born May 31, 1920, in Mahaska County the son of Homer and Jennie Morgan Moffet. He attended Prine School through 8th grade. Following school, he stayed home to help on the family farm. On March 15, 1944, Harry was united in marriage to Helen VerBeek at the Central United Methodist Church in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Following their marriage, Harry entered the United States Army on February 24, 1945 and served in the Pacific Theatre. He was honorably discharged December 7, 1946. Upon his discharge from the Army, they moved to the Caldwell Dairy Farm north of Oskaloosa and Harry worked as a farmhand. After a few years on the Caldwell Dairy, Harry and Helen moved to the Moffett Family Farm and Harry helped his dad farm. In 1959, they purchased their own farm near Leighton. Harry and Helen raised Duroc pigs, corn, and beans. They sold the farm and moved into Leighton in the mid 1970’s. In retirement Harry stayed active helping local farmers in the spring and fall. In 2001, he was awarded an Honorary Diploma due to his education being cut short by the war effort. He was a member of the Ebenezer Reformed Church in Leighton, Leighton Lions, and served on the Mahaska County Sherriff Posse for over 25 years. Harry also served on the Board of Directors at Leighton State Bank for over 35 years. Harry and Helen enjoyed camping especially at the Iowa State Fair, they also spent many winters in Arizona, Texas, and Florida in their camper. He also enjoyed buying, restoring, and re-selling antique tractors as well as toy tractors. He looked forward to restoring his favorite tractors that he would keep for his collection. On June 4, 2016, Helen died at Northern Mahaska Nursing and Rehab Center in Oskaloosa. His family includes his daughter and her husband, Phyllis and Joe Fitzpatrick of Stinson Beach, California; a granddaughter and her husband, Samantha Scharwtz-Miller and Jeff Miller; great-grandsons, Wyatt and Liam Miller; two sister in-laws, Ruth Moffet of Eddyville and JoAnn Moffet of Oskaloosa; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife, Helen; Harry was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, John Moffet and Lee Moffet; three sisters, Betty Moffet, Clara (Howard) Ludwick, and Mary (Carl) VanZomeren. Funeral services will be held on his 99th birthday Friday, May 31, 2019, at 10:30 a.m. in the Ebenezer Reformed Church in Leighton with Reverend Todd Rempe officiating. Burial will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, May 31, 2019, in the Forest Cemetery in Oskaloosa. Graveside Military Honors will be given by members of the Oskaloosa American Legion and V.F.W. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will begin Thursday after 12 noon in the Bates Funeral Chapel and the family will be at the funeral chapel from 5-7 Thursday evening to greet friends and relatives. Memorials may be made to Mahaska County Sheriff Posse.