Amil Herker, Jr.

Amil Herker, Jr., 89, of Clear Lake, passed away on Dec. 19, 2015, at the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit, Mason City, Iowa.

The family will receive friends at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, in Clear Lake, from 4:30-7:30 p.m., Monday, Dec. 28.  A private family graveside service will be held at a later date at Memorial Park Cemetery, in Mason City, with military honors provided by the Clear Lake VFW.  The family requests that memorials be directed to Hospice of North Iowa.

Amil was born in Des Moines, Iowa, July 31, 1926, the son of Amil August and Alta Louise (Lowe) Herker.  He went to Des Moines public schools and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1944.

Amil served in the U.S. Army, 102nd Division in the European Theater in World War II.  He was honorably discharged in August of 1946.  He then attended Iowa State University, studying civil/sanitary engineering before taking a position with Brown Engineering, in Des Moines.  He was part of the team which designed the waste water sewer system around Clear Lake.

Amil was united in marriage to Wilma M. King on Feb. 2, 1951, at the First Methodist Church, in Des Moines.  The couple moved to Clear Lake in 1954 when Amil was hired as the first superintendent of the Clear Lake Sanitary District, a position he held for 35 years, retiring in 1991.  He also served as the secretary of the Iowa Water Pollution Control Association for six years, was a life member of the Water Pollution Control Federation and was the recipient of several service awards in the area of water pollution control.

Amil became a Mason at Auburn Lodge #592 in Des Moines in 1950.  He joined Verity Lodge #250 in Clear Lake in 1960, serving in several stations, including Worshipful Master in 1965 and Secretary from 1977 – 1992.  He was a member of Benevolence Lodge #145, in Mason City, at the time of his death.   In 2000 Amil was presented with his certificate as a 50-year Mason.

While his children were in school he volunteered as the time keeper for 15 seasons of basketball at Clear Lake High School, beginning in the “new” high school gym in 1960.  Following retirement, when not traveling, Amil and his wife, Wilma, continued volunteering in the north Iowa community, spending hours helping at the Clear Lake Public Library, KCMR radio, the American Cancer Society and Mercy Medical Center North Iowa.  Amil was a member of the Clear Lake United Methodist Church.

Survivors include: daughter, Beth Ann (Mark) Schumacher, of Clear Lake; sons, Donald (Sumae) Herker, of Clear Lake, and Martin (Anita) Herker, of Traer, Iowa.  Grandchildren are, Rene (Scott) Davis, Joseph Herker, Abigail Schumacher, Ashley Schumacher, Stephan (Erica) Herker and Jennifer Herker.  Great-grandchildren are Jessica, Megan, Avery and Jaxson.  Great-great grandchildren are Wesley and Erika.

Amil was preceded in death by his wife, Wilma, in 2005; his parents, Amil and Alta (Lowe) Herker; a twin brother, James Herker; and sisters, Margaret Virginia (Herker) Lash and Phyllis Louise (Herker) Stifel.

Ward-Van Slyke Colonia Chapel, Clear Lake, was in charge of arrangements.