Charles Halma

Inwood, IA: Charles Halma, 90, of Inwood, died Friday, August 23, 2013 at the VA Hospital at Sioux Falls, SD. A funeral service will be 10:30 am Monday, August 26, 2013 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church with Rev. Rob Horstman officiating. Burial will follow at Richland Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be Sunday, August 25, 2013 from 3-4:30 pm at Porter Funeral Home, Inwood. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.porterfuneralhomes.com.

Charles "Charlie" was born September 17, 1922 at Beetgom, Friesland, the Netherlands, son of Harry and Hilda (Miedema) Halma. The family moved to America when Charlie was one year old to north east of Hawarden, Iowa, to North Dakota, and then in 1937 to northwest of Rock Valley. Charlie served in the U.S. Navy October 1943-February 1946. He married Alice Rumohr on October 9, 1947. Together they lived at Inwood where Charlie worked as a mechanic. In 1962 he became the bus mechanic at the West Lyon School until 1972 when Charlie started Halma Auto Service on the south edge of Inwood before retiring in 1988, after a total of 50 years as a mechanic. Charlie enjoyed drawing and painting pictures, cars and racing, and reading books on various topics.

Surviving relatives include his wife, Alice; daughters, Linda (Terry) Jones of Coon Rapids, MN, Nancy Halma of Inwood, IA, and Sandi (Steve) De Smet of Larchwood, IA; 6 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; brothers, George (Ann) Halma, Martin (Ruth) Halma, John Halma, Roger (June) Halma, Clarence (Connie) Halma all of Inwood; sisters Frieda (Bert) Veldkamp of Lakewood, CA, Albertha Johnson of Spearfish, SD, and Rena (Don) Cannegieter of Rock Valley, IA; and sister-in-law, Judy Halma of Inwood.

Charlie was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Sam Halma; sister-in-law, Ella Mae Halma; and brothers-in-law, Lawrence Gorter and Rus Johnson.