Harriet L. Finer

Harriet Lavonne Finer, 83, of Marion, Iowa, formerly Clear Lake, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, July 9, 2015 at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha, Iowa.

Services for Harriet will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, July 25, 2015, at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, with Evangelist, Bruce Collins officiating.  Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery, Mason City, Iowa. The family will greet friends on Friday, July 24, from 4-7 p.m. at the Ward-Van Slyke Colonial Chapel and then one hour before the service on Saturday at the Chapel.

Harriet was born March 21, 1932, in Mason City, the daughter of Henry and Mary (Meyer) Van Allen.

She attended Clear Lake Schools, Hamilton Business College and later obtained her real estate license as she and her husband, Eldon, enjoyed owning rental properties.  For many years Harriet worked for Winnebago Industries, in Forest City, Iowa.

Harriet married Eldon L. Finer on Nov. 26, 1955, at Zion Lutheran Church, Clear Lake.  She loved spending time with her family and attending her grandchildren’s events. She also enjoyed cooking “turkey/dressing and roast beef,” baking “pies, cookies, brownies, and kringlas,” and hosting family gatherings, particularly at Thanksgiving at her home on Clear Lake. Harriet loved serving her Lord and Savior, reading the Bible, praying for her children and grandchildren, hosting gospel meetings, and hymn sings in their home.

Harriet is survived by five children, Robin (Michael) Peters, of North Liberty, Iowa, Cheryl (Jack) Toppin, of Garner, Iowa, Jeffrey (Linda) Finer, of Clear Lake, Jacquelyn Dillon, of Denver, Colo. and Don (Leslie) Finer, of Aliso Viejo, Calif.; 10 grandchildren, Jordan Peters (fiancé, Mara Hines), Aaron, Stephan, Nathan (special friend, Jessica Graybill), and Hannah Peters, Nicole Toppin, Riley, Nickolas and Whitney Finer, David (Heather) Dillon; two sisters, Jean (Bob) Brown, of Forest, Ontario, Canada and Judy (Charles) Meyst, of Southfield, Mich.; two brothers, Lloyd (Francis) Van Ellen, of Parkersburg, Iowa, and Robert (Nancy) Meinders, Cedar Falls, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Eldon; and two grandchildren, Kimm Finer and Steven Dillon.

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