Harley F. Arians, 78, of Denver Sunset Home in Denver, IA, formerly of Loves Park, IL, and Morrison, IL, died Tuesday, June 2, 2015, at Allen Hospital in Waterloo, IA.
Harley was born April 24, 1937, in Morrison, to Fred W. and Ivy A. (Zuidema) Arians. He was educated in the Green Valley Grade School and was a 1955 graduate of Morrison High School. He married Gayle L. Minier on October 5, 1957, in Morrison. He later married Nancy J. (Deming) Lerch on October 9, 1987, in Sterling, IL. Harley served in the Illinois National Guard for 11 years. He was engaged in farming for 24 years in the Fenton, IL, and Union Grove Township, IL, areas. He then was employed as manager of the Farm and Fleet Store in Freeport, IL. Later he worked as a recruiter for the Morrison Institute of Technology and as a soil consultant in Illinois, Minnesota ,and California. He was a member of Bethesda Lutheran Church in Morrison, serving as a Sunday School teacher, church board member, and member of the church’s choir. He was a member of the North Love Baptist Church in Rockford, IL, and a member of the Sterling/Rock Falls S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A., the Agri-Chords Quartet, and the Morrison Music Theatre Association. He was a charter life member of the EAA–Experimental Aircraft Association, and a life member of the NRA–National Rifleman Association.
Survivors include his wife, Nancy; one daughter, Gayla Cordes of LeRoy, IL; three sons, Harlan (Deb) Arians of Denver, IA, Harold (Lisa) Arians of Clear Lake, IA, and Harvey Arians of Grand Haven, MI; four step-sons, Michael (Karie) Lerch of Kentucky, Jon (Betty) Lerch of Rock City, IL, Nathan Lerch and Matthew Lerch, both of Loves Park; ten grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Melvin L. Arians.
FUNERAL SERVICE: 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 6, 2015, at Bethesda Lutheran Church in Morrison, IL
OFFICIATING: Rev. Bob Burton, Pastor of Bethesda Lutheran Church, Morrison, IL
VISITATION: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Friday, June 5, 2015, at the Morrison Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Homes
INTERMENT: Grove Hill Cemetery, Morrison, IL
A memorial to Bethesda Lutheran Church has been established.