Burt Harmes died peacefully at home in his sleep January 15th. He was 95 and lived a wonderful life. He loved two great women, did well in business, and made many good friends – a fortunate man and a man of great integrity.
Burt was born March 25, 1918 in Carpenter, South Dakota. His father died at a young age, leaving Burton, his brother and sisters in a difficult situation during the depression. Through love they survived, and after high school, Burt joined the Navy. It was there, he developed his sense of mechanical engineering. This led him to a job with the Martin Company, building bombers at Baltimore, Maryland and later Omaha. He headed a 180-man machine shop when “I wasn’t dry behind the ears yet.”
Burt married his South Dakota sweetheart, Lois Foss, in 1942. To this happy union, two children were born: Sandy and Randy. They moved to Algona, Iowa, in 1949 to join Livingston Tool Company. Burt loved a problem to dissect on his drawing board, to diagnose, to study, and to build a machine to solve the problem. His first patented product was a torque wrench, and he went on to issue 24 patents in his name.
As president and owner of Metronics, he developed machines and tools for the food industry. Burt would say he was a lucky “left-handed blacksmith”. After selling this business in the 1970’s, Burt started Algona Food Equipment Company. It began as a small test plant associated with Hormel, and eventually it grew to a full production plant.
Burt and Lois spent a happy 44 years together — traveling throughout the United States as well as Europe, Hong Kong, and Egypt. Burt was an avid pilot and used his small plane on many of their travels. Burt was proud of his civic causes, including bank director in Algona, 26 years on the AMU board, his varied positions in the Presbyterian Church and his role in helping to start the Kossuth Regional Health Center Clinic.
The second chapter of Burt’s life began after losing his wife Lois to cancer. After he had retired to homes in Lake Okoboji and Scottsdale, he met Anna Lou Chapman. From their Valentine’s wedding in 1988 until the day he passed away, theirs was a love affair to remember. Initially they spent their time between Scottsdale and Colorado Springs, blending their families and each of their many individual lifelong friends together. It was an amazing blend that fit perfectly from beginning to end.
Burt was interested in everything and everybody. He could discuss almost any subject and if he knew nothing about the subject, he would revel in learning about it. As an avid reader, there was never a time when he was not reading a book. Burt read a lot of historical literature and was extremely knowledgeable about so many people and events. His memory for stories, events, dates and detail was extraordinary and he was always learning something new about another person or part of the world.
Burt was a great ambidextrous tennis player, which was always fun to watch but challenging to play against. He played both tennis and golf until he was 90. He and Anna Lou enjoyed many fun years of tennis, golf and travel. Burt was an explorer and a great ambassador to all he met.
Burt also loved to play cards and all games. His kids and grandchildren would all clamor to be his partner because if Burt was your partner, you stood a great chance of winning.
He is survived by his wife, Anna Lou, his son Randy of St. Peter, MN, his daughter Sandy (and Scott) Buchanan of Algona, IA, his step-daughters: Kym McClelland of Salt Lake City, Utah, Karen (and Mike) Pennell of Colorado Springs, and Kelly (and Ron) Meyer of Malibu, California, and his sister Dorothy (and Don) of Arlington, VA. He had 11 extremely accomplished grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren. He was extremely proud of all of them and he loved them dearly.
We love you, Burt, and each of us is a better person because you were in our lives!
Friends please join us for a celebration of Burt ‘s wonderful life on Saturday the 18th at 2:00 p.m. At the Garden of the Gods Club, 3320 Mesa Road, Colorado Springs.