Robert K. Harle

Robert K. Harle, 77, of Kanawha passed away Thursday, October 29, 2020 at MercyOne North Iowa in Mason City.

Graveside services for Robert Harle will be Monday, November 2, 2020 at 1:00 PM at the Norway Township Cemetery in Rural Kanawha, with Pastor Geoffrey White officiating. 

Visitation will be held on Sunday, November 1, 2020 from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Home, 118 East Second Street in Kanawha.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be left to the discretion of the family.

Click to view Bob Harle Graveside Service

Those planning to attend the graveside service are invited to bring a lawn chair. Those in attendance will be asked to follow social distancing guidelines and encouraged to wear a face covering.

Robert Kay Harle was born May 27, 1943 to Ingmar and Mary (Hughes) Harle in Clarion, Iowa. He was raised and educated in Kanawha and graduated from Kanawha High School in 1961.

Bob was united in marriage to Bonita Engstrom on December 8, 1962. The couple briefly made their home in Clarion before moving back to the Kanawha area, where they lived their entire married life.

Bob was a lifelong farmer, farming in Norway Township for more than 50 years. He was known as a perfectionist in the fields, and raised hogs for a number of years. Upon his retirement in 2014, Bob and Bonita moved into town.

Bob was an avid fisherman, whether by himself, on family trips in northern Minnesota or with the guys on their annual trips.

Bob and Bonita spent their winters in Arizona the past several years and during the warm weather months, he’d be at the farm on a daily basis. He loved his antique John Deere tractors and enjoyed riding in the annual Kanawha Labor Day tractor rides.

Bob was a longtime member of Kanawha Lutheran Church.

Bob is survived by his wife Bonita Harle of Kanawha; children Brian (Michelle) Harle of Kanawha, Bruce (Brenda) Harle of LaCrosse, Wisconsin and Barbara (Richard) Garstecki of Kanawha; grandchildren Jordan (Alex) Scaggs of Boise, Idaho, Sabri Scaggs of Boise, Cheyenne Harle of Ames, Berkley Harle of Wauwatosa, Wisconsin, Courtney Harle of Ames, Blake Harle of LaCrosse and Carson Harle of Kanawha; his siblings Jim Harle of Kanawha, Linda (Joe) Weir of Milford, Iowa and Rich (Devon) Harle of Winona, Minnesota; sister-in-law Betty (Howard) Hughes of Humboldt; aunts Rita Mae Rossman of Renwick and Arlene Engh of Kanawha; along with numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law Frank and Shirley Engstrom and siblings-in-law Mike and Kay Engstrom.