Harley Eugene Habbena, 69, Ellsworth, died unexpectedly Tuesday, March 5, 2002, at Luverne Community Hospital following a sudden illness at home.
Services were Friday, March 8, at Zion Presbyterian Church in Ellsworth. The Rev. Robert Raedeke officiated. Burial, with full military honors, followed at Grand Prairie Cemetery in Ellsworth.
Harley Habbena was born to Jack and Henrietta "Hap" (Kruse) Habbena on June 15, 1932, in Ellsworth. His family moved to Little Rock, Iowa, where he grew up and attended school. He finished the 10th grade in Little Rock and received his GED from Luverne Public Schools on Feb. 22, 1971. He served his country in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict, receiving his honorable discharge from the active reserve on Oct. 25, 1958.
He married Joyce Hinrichs on Nov. 5, 1951, in Ellsworth where they lived. In 1962 they moved to Adrian and to Luverne in 1963. For 35 years he worked in packinghouses as a cooler supervisor. His work took him to many different packing plants including Tama, Iowa, for 14 years, Omaha, Neb., for 11 years, and Fargo, N.D., for eight years. In 1996 they retired to Ellsworth. He began working at the Adrian Rest Area. He also did many carpentry odd jobs around Ellsworth. He also did a lot of woodworking projects.
Mr. Habbena was an active member of Zion Presbyterian Church in Ellsworth, where he served as a deacon for four years and currently was an elder. He and his wife were church custodians for the past year and a half. He served on the Ellsworth City Council for four years, the Cemetery Board for six years and was also a member of the American Legion. He enjoyed fishing, going camping and reading.
Survivors include his wife, Joyce Habbena, Ellsworth; four daughters, Colleen Faye (Roger) Kelderman, Constance Raye Habbena and her fiancŽ Jack Aschinger, all of Omaha, Neb., Colette Kaye (Steven) Johnson, Huron, S.D., and Karen Lynn (Gary) Fitzwater, Kansas City, Mo.; eight grandchildren, Melissa Colleen Kelderman and her fiancŽ, Dennis Lahm, Chad Allen Kelderman, Jacqueline Mae Kelderman and her fiancŽ, Corey Schroeder, Scott Eugene Johnson and his fiancŽ Lindsey Hins, Marie Faye Kelderman, Brandon Ray Phelps, Preston Ray Phelps, and Zachery James Fitzwater; one stepgrandson Jack Daniel Aschinger Jr.; one great-grandchild, Chasidy Marie Kelderman; one sister, Sylvia (James) Munns, Early, Iowa; one niece, Carrie Woodridge, Plano, Texas; and very special family members, Jeri Lenz, and Gene, Sandy and Julie Sanders, all of Ellsworth.
Mr. Habbena was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Jackie, and two sisters, Sally and Betty.
Roste Funeral Home, Rock Rapids, Iowa, was in charge of arrangements.