Herbert William Taylor Jr.

Herbert William Taylor, Jr went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday September 27, 2025, at the Taylor House in Des Moines, IA, surrounded by his family. Herb was diagnosed with cancer in 2022.

Herb was born in Washburn, Iowa, April 15, 1939. He is the second son of Herbert "Red" and Laura Taylor. Herb was 4 years old when the family moved to a farm south of New Virginia. He grew up there working on the farm and attended school at the New Virginia Community School. He joined the United States Army Reserves in 1955 and served faithfully for 8 years. In 1958 Herb married Mary Carolyn Keller and they were blessed with three sons, Doug, Mike and Jody.

Herb was a hard-working and results-driven man holding down multiple jobs during his life. Some of those jobs included pulling out railroad ties by hand using an ice tong, shoveling sand 12 hours a day to help build Interstate 35 in Iowa, working as an electrician, working at Otis Elevators, Des Moines Steel and then finishing his working career at Eagle Iron Works in Des Moines, Iowa.

He found his niche in metalworking, welding and the fabrication of all sorts of steel. He said, "I can't believe someone could go to work and have that much fun." He honed those skills, even developing new techniques implemented by the county for bridge construction and repairs. He has his fingerprints on several projects around the state, country, and even around the world. Some of those include the first Skywalk in Des Moines, IA, multiple bridges throughout the world, the St Louis Arch and the Apollo Space Mission, just to name a few. He may have even welded or fixed something for many who are reading or hearing this obituary.

Working his way up through the ranks, he retired at the highest position from Eagle Iron Works as General Superintendent and Production Manager in 2003.

He also loved to rebuild and restore IH tractors as he would find them, pull them out of the weeds, and give them new life. He also loved designing and building garden tractors to enter in small tractor pulling events. Over the years he built, sold and traded the different garden tractors he designed and built. The two most memorable tractors he built were "The Bounty Hunter" and "The Outlaw". With those 2 pulling tractors came lots of memories, relationships, multiple ribbons, trophies and cash awards throughout the Midwest.

Herb also served his community for many years in the Lions Club, New Virginia Fire Department, City Council and as Mayor of New Virginia for about 15 years.

Above all, Herb loved the Lord Jesus Christ. He accepted the gift of salvation that God offered him as a young boy of about 5 years old. As he grew older and began to understand the gift of salvation, he wanted to know and model his Savior and Lord. He loved the church and worked at "building the Church", physically and spiritually. He modeled the Christian life to his family and those around him. He would often tell of the prayers that God had answered for him in miraculous ways, whether by healings or otherwise.

Herb is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Mary, his second wife Kathy, also his brother Irvin "Red" Taylor, and Marilyn's daughter, Ginger Stevenson.

Herb is loved and missed by his wife, Marilyn, his three sons Doug (Becky), their children Heather, Sherri and Travis and their families. Mike (Becky), their daughters Amanda and Allison and their families. Jody (Jaci) and children Abby and Jarad, and their families. Marilyn's son, Bill Anderson (Kim) and daughter Bailee. Kasey Jones (Kayla) and son Levi. Marilyn's granddaughters, Skyler Stevenson and Kaylee Trumbo, along with 15 grandchildren, sister Vivian (Jerry) Schmit and brother Bob Taylor and other relatives and friends.

Services will be held at Kale Funeral Home - Osceola, Wednesday October 1, 2025 at 10:00 am.

Herb's family will greet friends from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Tuesday, September 30, 2025 at Kale Funeral Home.

A live stream of the service will be available at www.kalefuneralhome.com on Herbert's tribute wall beginning at 10:00 am, Wednesday.

Interment will be in the New Virginia Cemetery

Memorial contributions may be directed to Taylor Hospice 3401 E Douglas Ave, Des Moines, IA 50317

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.kalefuneralhome.com