In Memory of Harold H. Fick

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 06, 2015, at the First Presbyterian Church of Battle Creek, Iowa. The Rev. Kevin J. Freese will officiate. Military Rites will be conducted by the Maple Valley Post No. 364 of the American Legion of Battle Creek, Iowa. Committal Services will be held on July 6, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. at the Storm Lake Cemetery of Storm Lake, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Sunday, July 5, 2015 at the First Presbyterian Church of Battle Creek, Iowa. The Christensen ~ Van Houten Funeral Home of Battle Creek, Iowa is in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online to www.christensenvanhouten.com 

Harold Harvey Fick was the 2nd of 4 boys born to Hans and Florence Fick in Bloomfield, Nebraska on November 23, 1937. In the spring of 1944 they moved the family to Battle Creek, Iowa where they had purchased their own farm.  

Tragically, Harold's oldest brother, Henry died suddenly at the age of 3. The remaining 3 brothers, Harold, Jim and Dean, were raised on the family farm and went to school in Battle Creek. Harold joined the Air Force out of high school and became a skilled mechanic working on airplanes.  Following his 5 years of service, he returned to Battle Creek where he utilized his mechanical skills to begin his lifelong career as a John Deere mechanic.

He married the love of his life, Karen Sorbe, of Albert City, Iowa on July 31st 1961. They lived in Ida Grove while Harold worked as a mechanic at the John Deere Implement.  Karen passed away in 2001 just shy of their 50th wedding anniversary.  Their two daughters, Susan and Theresa were born in Ida Grove two years apart.

While the girls were both young, the family moved to Spencer, Iowa where they would live for the next 15 years.  His sharp skills as a mechanic eventually allowed Harold to become the Service Manager at Clay County Implement for many years. When the time came that both girls were attending college at the University of Iowa, Harold and Karen made the move to Adel, Iowa where Harold had been offered a Service Manager position at a much larger John Deere Implement. 

After a few years there, Harold convinced his wife to follow his dream of going West to Big Sky Country. The couple settled in Livingston, Montana to begin a new adventure. Harold was the Service Manager at Strong and Bradley, the local John Deere implement until he retired in 2003. Their Grandson, Scott was born in 1997 in Livingston.  Harold and Karen were doting Grandparents who loved spending time with him. Following his wife's death, Harold made the difficult decision to leave Montana and return to Battle Creek, Iowa to be near his brother and best friend, Dean. 

They enjoyed countless hours of riding motorcycles and playing Euchre. In 2013 he married Carla Wessling. Harold's health began to deteriorate rapidly and he passed away peacefully on July 2, 2015.

 He is survived by his daughters; Susan Fick of Austin, Texas and Theresa (Doug) Lobaugh of Great Falls, Montana; his beloved Grandson, Scott of Great Falls, Montana; his brother Dean (Peggy) Fick of Battle Creek, Iowa; wife Carla Fick, of  Battle Creek, Iowa; by numerous nieces and nephews, and step-children.  Harold was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Karen Sorbe Fick; brothers, Henry Fick and James “Boots” Fick; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Jewell and Walter Sorbe.