Martin B. Haker

Martin B. Haker

Onslow

Martin B. Haker, 82, of Onslow, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2023, at the Henry County Health Center in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, while attending the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion. He passed peacefully surrounded by his family.

A visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7, with funeral services at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 8. Both will be held at Dawson Funeral Services in Wyoming. The burial will be held at Fairview Cemetery in Earlville later that day.

Martin Benjamin Haker was born on Nov. 18, 1940, in Manchester, Iowa, to Bessie Brown Koppes and Ernest Haker. He attended Onslow School District. On Sept. 29, 1963, he was united in marriage to Sheryl Lincoln at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lost Nation. He faithfully and honorably served in the U.S. Army. He was a member of the Wyoming American Legion Post 259. Martin had several occupations over the years including driving and operating his Standard Oil delivery truck. He also worked for BL Anderson (now known as Wendling Quarries) drilling holes for dynamite blasting, driving for Anamosa Silo and worked at DynaGear in Maquoketa where he retired from. He was a collector of many items over the years including keychains and Hot Wheels and always enjoyed a good garage sale. Whenever anyone in the family was traveling, “trains, tools and toys” was his motto. Martin had an extensive collection of ERTL farm toys. He enjoyed watching the Chicago Cubs, NASCAR, camping and watching westerns. Family was extremely important as was his childhood tradition of attending the Midwest Old Threshers Reunion with his entire family.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of nearly 60 years, Sheryl of Onslow; four children, Craig (Cheryl) Haker of Anamosa, Carmen (Lance) Holub of Anamosa, Chris (Amanda) Haker of Stanwood and Connie (Brad Mrstik) Halter of Cedar Rapids; 10 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren, with one on the way; a sister, Cheryl (Dr. Jerry) Wessels of Anita; a brother, Franklin (Betty) Haker of Conrad; a brother-in-law, Tom Gerdes of Oxford Junction; and several extended family members and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; mother-in-law, Audrey Bonney Gerdes; step-father-in-law, John Gerdes; sister-in-law, Judy Taylor; a brother-in-law, Steve Gerdes; and a great-grandson, Alistair Norton.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to his family in his honor. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.dawsonfuneral.com. Cards of condolences may be directed to Dawson Funeral Services Attn: Martin Haker Family, P.O. Box 258, Wyoming, IA 52362.