Obituary of Howard E. Villhauer

Howard Villhauer, 80 of 630 E. Jefferson Street, Iowa City died on his 59th wedding anniversary, Saturday, February 10, 2007, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, February 13, 2007, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Iowa City with the Reverend Kenneth Kuntz officiating. Burial with military honors will be at St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 8pm Monday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service, where a parish rosary along with a time for sharing of memories will began at 7pm. In lieu of flowers memorial donations can be made in Howard’s memory to Camp Courageous, Iowa City Hospice or Iowa City Boys Baseball Program. Online condolences may be sent for his family through our website @www.gayandciha.com. (Sunday parking ordinance will be in effect for Tuesday on the streets near the church). Howard was born May 18, 1926, in Iowa City the ninth child of fourteen to Louie and Minnie (Price) Villhauer. He attended City High School and along with his five other brothers, joined the Navy during WWII. Returning to Iowa City following service he married Mary Crowley on February 10, 1948. In 1950 Howard began working for the Veterans Administration Hospital even before it was opened here in Iowa City. He retired from the VA in the Purchasing and Contract Office after 31 years of service. He was a member of St. Mary’s Church where he was on the Parish Council instrumental in the parish hall renovation below the church in 1980. He was a member of the American Legion Post 17, Moose Lodge #1097, and his name is now part of the Veterans Trail at the Coralville Reservoir. Howard has been a fixture in Iowa City boy’s baseball since 1960, having served as coach, president, commissioner, and staunch supporter being known to many as “Mr. Baseball” of Iowa City. In 2001 he and his wife, Mary were inducted into the Iowa Babe Ruth Hall of Fame! His family includes his wife, Mary; blessed with their eight children and their spouses, Lorraine and Bill Crossett of Boynton Beach, FL, Ed and Pat Villhauer of Iowa City, Colleen and Wayne Hogan of Iowa City, Tim and Pati Villhauer of Bellingham, WA, Tony and Doreen Villhauer of Iowa City, Amy and Dale Jackson of Iowa City, Jeff and Tanya Villhauer of North Liberty, and Chris and Angela Villhauer of Iowa City; twenty grandchildren, Brian Crossett, Jessica Crossett, Beth Villhauer, Katie Schafer (Jeff), Emily Villhauer, Grant Hogan, Andrea` Villhauer, Neil Villhauer, Rachel Villhauer, Eric Villhauer, Tyler Villhauer, Nicholas Jackson, Devon Jackson, Justine Jackson, Nathan Jackson, Chad Villhauer, Riley Villhauer, Michael Villhauer, Duncan Villhauer, and Madeline Villhauer; two great-grandsons, Samuel and Joseph Schafer; sister, Joan Hummer of Oxford; brother and his wife, Don and Marcia Villhauer of Rochester, IA; brothers-in-law, Ray Hess and Bob Svatos both of Iowa City; and sisters-in-law, Dorothy Villhauer and Maisie Villhauer both of Iowa City. Howard was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, LaChrista Shockley, Henrietta Villhauer, Gretchen Hess, Letha Hein, Marie Svatos, and Louise Huffman; and brothers, Carl, Leo, David, Louie and Herman Villhauer. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Howard’s family and his services.