Percy A. Means, 90, of Marcus passed away on Saturday, December 24, 2016 at the Heartland Care Center in Marcus. Funeral services will take place at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, December 28, 2016 at the Earnest – Johnson Funeral Home in Marcus. Father Daniel C. Guenther will officiate. Burial will follow at a later date. Military honors will be conducted by F.I. Goodburn Post #517 of the American Legion. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday December 27, 2016 at the Earnest – Johnson Funeral Home. The family will be present from 5-7 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. There will also be one hour of visitation at the funeral home on Wednesday prior to the funeral service.
Percy Armitt Means was born on February 11, 1926, in Marcus, Iowa the fifth boy of fifteen children born to Humphrey and Lena (Swartzwelder) Means. He attended Marcus Public School until moving to Meriden, Iowa where he graduated from high school. Percy enlisted in the United States Marines along with ten of his brothers that were in the armed services. He served with the 2nd Division and was among the first troops to storm the Japanese shore following the explosion of the atom bomb. Following his Honorable Discharge, Percy returned to Marcus.
On May 2, 1950, Percy and LaVonne “Bonnie” Collins were united in marriage at Holy Name Catholic Church in Marcus. They were blessed with one daughter, Karen. Percy worked for the Marcus Lumber Company for 41 years in the plumbing and heating section.
Percy was great at fixing anything and was always willing to lend a helping hand with painting, carpentry, plumbing and heating. He was a true “Jack of all trades”. His favorite sports teams were the Cubs, Bears and the Hawkeyes. He was a bowler and an avid walker and logged 5 to 7 miles a day until he was 88 years old. He took dancing lessons when he was 50 and enjoyed polka music the most. In early years, Percy made fun of golfers, until he became one himself later in life. He was lucky enough to hit a hole in one.
He will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 66 years, Bonnie Means of Marcus, IA; a daughter and her husband, Karen and Gary Kittler of Longmont, CO; four grandchildren, Angela (Brian) Alexander, Michael (Julia) Miller, Leah Miller and Kendra Miller; great-grandchildren, Jacob, Dillon, Courtney, Evan Alexander, Nolan and Elsie Miller; step-grandchildren, Jennifer (Bruce) Salyers and Robert Kittler; step-great-grandchildren, Logan, Emma and Seneca Kittler, Bryan Salyers; a sister, June Cave; brothers, Vernon, Joe, Walt, Jake and Bill; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two infant siblings; brothers, Paul, Richard, Franklin, Herb, James and Bobbie.
Memorials may be directed to the Heartland Care Center or the Marcus Golf Course.
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