Earl Halse

Earl Wilson Halse, age 84, of Decorah, Iowa, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at WinnMed in Decorah, surrounded by his family.

Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 25, 2025, at St. Benedict Catholic Church, 307 W Main St., with Rev. Donald Hertges presiding. Burial will be in Burr Oak Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4:00-6:00 p.m. on Monday, November 24, 2025, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 E Water St., Decorah, Iowa. There will be no visitation at the church on Tuesday morning, please come in and be seated.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made out to WinnMed hospice. 

On the first day of 1941, Earl was born. A New Year’s Baby and the “first baby of the year” for Decorah. In blizzard conditions, Doc Larson was brought by horse-drawn sleigh to Raymond and Ida (Perry) Halse’s home in Canoe Township to help with delivery. This story was often recounted at Earl’s birthday parties. 

As a young boy Earl helped his parents with many chores. He talked most often of the work done with the farm’s horses – the way they followed planting lines, the long hours in the field, and the rare moments of leisure he was afforded with them. This appreciation for horses lasted a lifetime. He remembered the day the Ford 8N Tractor arrived on the farm –a tractor restored later by his children as a special gift. 

Earl graduated from Decorah High School with the class of 1960. His wedding to Virginia Lee Herold at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church followed shortly after in the fall of the same year. Their nearly 60-year-long marriage began on October 15th. To this union, two sons and two daughters were born: Perry, Lisa, Lynne, and Daniel. Together Earl and Virginia built their home, raised hogs, bottle calves, and Registered Welsh Ponies on their farm north of Decorah. 

As a young man Earl was talented at working with his hands and troubleshooting problems with machinery and equipment. He enjoyed his first jobs at Skelly’s Filling Station and the City of Decorah. He also volunteered for the Decorah Fire Department—where he even spent time as Assistant Fire Chief before moving into the country. 

For 35 years, Earl served the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) in several mechanical positions including heavy machine operator with the Dragline and the Allis Chalmers Diesel SnoGo Snowblower. Earl’s expertise meant he was called to places across the state for precision work year round. He was one of the only Dragline and Snowblower Operators in the State of Iowa. The Dragline was specialized piece of excavation equipment, which resembled the modern crane/excavator, was incredibly finicky to operate. It was brought into areas that had experienced natural disasters or during specific infrastructure projects. He was the sole operator for that Dragline until his retirement in 2000. Engineers across Iowa requested Earl by name.

Earl’s love language was Acts of Service. He was a caretaker when he was needed whether family or stranger, a giver of his time and resources, and a quiet and consistent servant who never worried about getting credit. Earl and Virginia created a loving and generous home where friends and family felt welcome to stop by on a whim. Often Virginia was greeting guests at the door and Earl was doing farm chores. His grandchildren recall many Christmas holidays when they arrived to find Earl had already made snow piles for play and sledding and Virginia had treats and snacks lining the countertops. 

When his wife passed away, Earl remained on the farm, firmly rooted in the place where he and his love had built their lives. He faced the last chapter of his own life with a true farmer’s determination, battling dementia with humor, strength, and unwavering faith.

‘The heart will always remember what the mind forgets’

Earl is survived by his four beloved children: Perry (Tom Mathiasen and Becky) Halse, Lisa (Paul) Bruening, Lynne (Donnie) Rilling all of Decorah, Iowa, and LTC, (R) Daniel (Julie) Halse of Alexandria, Virginia. Earl is also survived by ten grandchildren who brought him great joy throughout the past 40 years: Justin (Jessica) Rilling, Jessica (Samuel) Drenth, Morgan (Kurt) Rilling Schewe, Capt Daniel Joseph Halse Jr., Devin (Miranda) Bruening, Mackenzie Halse, Courtney (Jared) Blodgett, Alexandra (Mhari) Halse, Lucas Halse, and Shannon (Shane) White. Earl was the youngest of two children and is survived by his brother Philip (Evelyn) Halse of Decorah, Iowa and two brother-in-law’s Robert (Jerry) Herold and Cletus (Reva) Herold of Des Moines, Iowa. 

Earl was preceded in death by his wife and best friend Virginia and parents Ida and Raymond Halse. As well as in-laws Helen Herold Tlougan, Cyril Herold, and sister-in-law Mary Luther. His family finds great joy and comfort knowing he has reunited with his beloved wife, whom he has missed dearly since her passing, and is at peace resting with the Lord. The memories will live on in all those who knew him.