Howard Zirkelbach Sept. 14, 1923 – Oct. 13, 2020

      Howard Zirkelbach, age 97, died peacefully, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020 at Pennington Square in Monticello.
A private family visitation was held at Goettsch Funeral Home, Monticello. Public graveside services were held 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 16 at Oakwood Cemetery, Monticello.

      Surviving is his wife, June, his daughter, Barbara (Steve) Smith and a brother, Robert (Ruth) Zirkelbach and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters, Ruth Hardersen, Rosemary Lorenzen and Amy Wilson and two brothers, John and Dean.

      Howard Eugene Zirkelbach was born Sept. 14, 1923 at Monticello, Iowa. He was the son of Edward and Emma Hein, Zirkelbach. Howard graduated from Monticello Community Schools with the class of 1941. He started farming in the Scotch Grove area and in Wayne Township. Howard married June Richardson on Dec. 23, 1946 at Linn Grove Presbyterian Church near Mt. Vernon. The couple farmed near Center Junction for many years. They retired from active farming in 1985 and then spent and enjoyed many winters in Ruskin, Fla.
Howard was a member of the Scotch Grove Presbyterian Church, where he was an elder. He also served on the Jones County Conservation Board, the Farm Bureau Board, Center Junction Telephone Company Board, and the Jones County Pork Producers Board. He enjoyed going fishing and camping.