Hustedt, Howard E. (1943 - 2022)

HUSTEDT, ORTNER, PICK, UHL, SIBBEL, RYAN, K NICKEL, THORESON, ANTHOFER, REIS, SHAW

Posted By: Carol Auen (email)
Date: 2/3/2023 at 14:53:17

Howard E. Hustedt
May 30, 1943 - November 30, 2022

Howard E. Hustedt, age 79, of Odebolt, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, November 30, 2022, at the Horn Memorial Hospital of Ida Grove, Iowa.

A Funeral Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, at the St. Martin Catholic Church of Odebolt, Iowa. Father Richard D. Ball will officiate. Committal Services will follow in the St. Martin Catholic Cemetery of Odebolt, Iowa. A Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., with a Vigil Service held at 7:00 p.m., Monday, December 5, 2022, at the St. Martin Catholic Church of Odebolt, Iowa.

Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home of Odebolt, Iowa, is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.christensenvanhouten.com

Howard E. Hustedt was born May 30, 1943 and attended grade school and high school in the Galva, IA, Community Schools. He enjoyed playing all sports and was awarded over 10 varsity letters while playing for the Blue Devils during his high school career. Howard was recognized for his football talents by being named to the All-State 8-Man Football Team his senior year. His enjoyment of all sports carried well into his adult years.

Howard had singing roles in virtually all of the musical functions offered by Galva High School's music department. Singing was a talent that Howard shared with others into his adult life (especially for weddings and funerals). He also was an accomplished trombone player and played 1st Chair for his high school band.

One of the stars of the Lady Blue Devils basketball team, Marcia Ortner, caught his attention as a 13-year-old freshman and a life-long relationship was formed. On October 26, 1962, Howard married Marcia and they moved to Storm Lake, IA, where he enrolled in Buena Vista College on January 1, 1963. He was given partial athletic scholarships to play football and baseball for the Beavers.

While in college, Howard farmed 80 acres and helped Marcia raise two children. Marcia worked as a hair stylist to help support the family until Howard's senior year of college when he was awarded a full ride scholarship.

In the Spring of 1966, Howard was assigned to perform his student teaching at Odebolt-Arthur Junior High in Odebolt, IA. He graduated from BVU in the Spring of 1966. During the following summer, he attended Westmar College in LeMars, IA, to earn his Driver's Education degree.

In the Fall of '66, Howard accepted a position at O-A to teach Government and Driver's Ed. He also was given the coaching positions of assistant football, assistant track, head baseball, head girls basketball, and head golf. Bus driving was also included in his O-A duty list.

At the time Howard took his teaching job, he was also offered a job as a cattle buyer for Wilson Pack. He was also offered a contract to play semi-pro football for the Des Moines Warriors who would have paid him a salary to play and also provided him a job in the Des Moines area. However, it was Howard and Marcia's desire to raise their family near their parents.

In 1969, Howard resigned from his teaching position and went to work for Richard C. Swanson at the Swanson Insurance Agency on June 1. He agreed to an annual salary of $9,600 (not realizing that the Agency's gross income at the time was only $19,200). In 1972, Richard and Howard incorporated the Agency as Financial Security Services, Inc. and Howard purchased 40% of the stock for $15,000 which he borrowed from his father, Harold "Happy" Hustedt.

During the ensuing years, Howard and Marcia raised their six children and supported each of them in their very active careers in the O-A school system. Howard also enjoyed organizing local fast pitch softball teams which allowed him to continue his very competitive athletic spirit. On the diamond, "Big Stick" was a nickname he earned for his long home run blasts (such as the one he tagged one night in Kiron... stopped only by the power lines as it continued to rise over the center field fence). Marcia and he also were very active in the Spring Lake Golf and Country Club and participated in numerous golf outings over the years. To say that Howard was an avid outdoorsman is an understatement He enjoyed hunting and fishing with anyone but especially his old college buddies, his children, and grandchildren. Fishing trips to Canada were highlights of those years. And, when it came to hunting, Howard could shoot, clean, cook, and devour a pheasant within an hour.

Over the years, Howard became very involved in the St. Martin Catholic Church where he taught CCD classes for many years, sang in the choir, served on the building committee for the new church (1977), and participated or led many other parish activities. His spiritual inspiration also led Howard to consider being a Deacon in the Catholic faith.

Howard took his turn at leading the Odebolt Chamber of Commerce and was quite active in civic activities. He was heavily involved in the planning and organizing of the Odebolt Centennial Celebration in 1977, one of the most wonderful community celebrations ever experienced by our town. He entertained crowds with the organ grinder (Milt Paul) and the gorilla (Howard) during that celebration. Years later, Howard did his part to entertain the throngs of RAGBRAI cyclists as one of the Whistlers quartet with Jim Wareham, Larry Beckman, and Al Wilke as they peddled through our town.

Likewise, visitors who enter Odebolt are welcomed by attractive signage that Howard helped make possible through his volunteer work in raising money for each of the four signs that stand at the four city entrances. In 2005, Howard took the lead in raising funding that helped convert the old Beckman garage building into a lavish community center that hosts a multitude of community activities over the course of a year. And, finally, Howard was instrumental in the Green Space project which helped beautify Odebolt's main street area.

Howard was a successful businessman and entrepreneur. He was involved in the starting of many different businesses over the years, including branch insurance agencies in surrounding communities. He also was involved in many start-up companies including Odebolt Land & Cattle, Birch Tree Inc., Piccadilly Circus Pizza Inc., Picc LTD, International Financing, Sac County Trading, Quinto & Company and Big H Outfitters (with his sons). Other noted accomplishments include purchasing a seat on the Chicago Board of Trade, insuring the DeLorean Motor Company and owning a DeLorean car, and selling the Adams Ranch, which was the largest real estate transaction in the state of Iowa at that time.

Howard’s greatest accomplishment and treasure was his family, whom he worked tirelessly to love and support.

Left to cherish his memory include his children Regina (Michael) Pick of Omaha, NE, Bryce Hustedt (Jill Stebic Webb) of Odebolt, IA, Steven (Diane) Hustedt of Ames, IA, Tamara Uhl of Sioux City, IA, Matthew (Jennifer) Hustedt of Omaha, NE and Kyle Hustedt of Chicago, IL; 19 grandchildren: Scott (Martha) Sibbel, Cody (Marissa) Pick, Trey (Nikki) Pick, Marquette (Mitchell) Ryan; Brady Nickel; Halei (Austin) Anthofer, Sydney (Gage) Reis, Tate, Dane, Trent, and Emmy Hustedt; Taylor (Steven) Shaw, Trista Thoreson, Tyson Thoreson; Kennedy, Gabrielle, Garrett Elizabeth, and Mia Hustedt; 12 great-grandchildren: Anthony, Ellie, Peyton, Paisley, Preslee, Rhett, Andi, Aiden, Henry, Julia, Palmer, and Campbell; many nieces, nephews, extended family and a host of friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Marion and Harold “Happy” Hustedt; his beautiful bride Marcia Jane Hustedt; and sister Audrey (Glenn) Johnson.

Obituary by Christen Van Houten Funeral Homes