Harold I. Slings, 95

Harold I. Slings of Pella went to glory on Mar. 10, 2014, at the age of 95 years, 9 months, and 10 days, following several weeks of illness while being cared for at the Pella Regional Health Center. Funeral services were held Saturday, Mar. 15, at Second Christian Reformed Church in Pella. Interment was in the Evergreen Cemetery at Leighton. Memorial contributions may be given for the Second Christian Reformed Church building fund.

Harold Ira Slings was born in a farmhouse near Leighton on May 30, 1918, to Isaac and Adrianna (Boertje) Slings. After a few years, the family moved to a farm near Prairie City, and Harold attended the local country school. In August of 1941, Harold was one of the first young men drafted into the United States Army from Jasper County.

After training camp in Massachusetts, Camp Gordon, GA, and Fort Campbell, KY, he was assigned to help guard the United States from Virginia to the Florida Keys. On Dec. 20, 1942, Harold married Martha De Boer at the Second Christian Reformed Church in Pella. Harold was then sent to the European Theater of World War II. He was in the second wave of men to go on shore at Omaha Beach in the Allied Invasion of Normandy. He followed General Patton across Europe until he was wounded near Nancy, France. After a stormy, dangerous trip across the North Atlantic, he was hospitalized in New York City over Christmas of 1944. He was next sent to a hospital near Sacramento, CA, and after many surgeries, he was sent home on Nov. 15, 1945. He continued to have service-related effects the remainder of his life.

Following his discharge, Harold and Martha farmed west of Pella for a few years and then moved to a farm west of Leighton. Harold and Martha had three children. Harold took agronomy classes and was a progressive livestock and grain farmer. Many family times were spent attending softball games as Harold played first base for the Leighton team for many years. He also enjoyed spending evenings with family trips to Lake Keomah for swimming and ice cream on the way home. As the children grew older, he loved going to their sporting and school activities.

After moving to Pella for his semi-retirement, Harold did carpentry work and later did maintenance work at the Super 8 Motel. Harold loved to read and did lots of woodworking. He made many gifts for Martha and their children and grandchildren. He was a faithful servant at the Second Christian Reformed Church, teaching classes and serving as a youth leader and an elder for many years.

He is joining his family members in glory: His son, Richard Slings; his grandson, Michael De Jong; his parents, Isaac and Adrianna Slings; his brothers, Rodger and Andrew Slings; his sister, Berdina and her husband Willis Van Sant; Martha’s parents, Garrett and Dora (De Vries) De Boer; and Martha's siblings: Peter and Ann De Boer, Richard and Rita De Boer, and Ted De Boer.

Mourning his passing are his wife of 71 years, Martha; a daughter, Dorothy (Howard) De Jong of Pella; a son, Marvin (Lynda) Slings of Sully; a daughter-in-law, Judy Slings of Leighton; eight grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and two sisters-in-law, Laura Slings of Pella and Madeline Slings of Prairie City. He will also be missed by his Fairhaven and Cottage family, friends, and many nieces and nephews.

 

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