Herman Lalk, 90, of Hawkeye, died Monday, October 22, 2012, at the Good Samaritan Home in West Union, from natural causes.
Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m., Friday, October 26, 2012, at the First Baptist Church in Sumner with Rev. Robert Burchfield officiating. Interment will be in Wilson Grove Cemetery, rural Sumner with military rites provided by Arnold-Rogers Post #312, American Legion of Hawkeye. Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, October 25, 2012, at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Sumner and for one hour preceding services at the church on Friday. A memorial fund will be established in his name. Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com.
Herman (Harm) Lalk, son of William and Mireka Hulsabus Lalk, was born September 17, 1922, in Flaxmeir, Germany. He came to the United States on September 17, 1923. Herman had his first birthday on the ship. The family settled in Columbus, Nebraska, and Herman attended school in Shell Creek, Nebraska until the eighth grade. His family then moved to Iowa in 1939.
Herman worked for different farmers until he entered the U.S. Army in 1943, during World War II. He had his training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. Herman was shipped out to Germany for two years, and became a United States citizen two days before he returned home to Sumner, Iowa.
After putting his faith in Jesus Christ, Herman was baptized on April 30, 1944, by Rev. Paul Zoschke at the First Baptist Church in Elgin, Iowa. Herman was one of the charter members of the First Baptist Church of Sumner, and served the church as an usher and trustee over the years.
On August 12, 1947, Herman was united in marriage with Margaret Potratz at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. Herman has been a farmer all his married life and also a mechanic who could fix anything. He enjoyed riding a motorcycle (in his younger days), fishing, and antique cars.
In addition to his wife, Margaret of rural Hawkeye, Herman is survived by three sons, David (Debrah) Lalk of Westgate, James (Nancy) Lalk of Sumner, and Steve (Sharon) Lalk of Richmond, Virginia; twelve grandchildren; twenty-four great grandchildren; and a sister, Ella Green of Charles City.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Norma Rieck; his parents; and two brothers, John and William.
