Denzyl L. Harbour

Denzyl L. Harbour, 94, of rural Bloomfield, Iowa passed away May 30, 2016 at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City. He was born November 21, 1921 to Thomas Joel and Beryle Lockman Harbour near Belknap in Davis County, Iowa. His early years were spent in one-room rural schools in Colorado and Davis County. He attended Bloomfield High School where he met his future wife, Nancy Dixon of rural Moulton, Iowa. The couple were married in Lancaster, Missouri on April 17, 1947 and lived in western Davis County raising a daughter, Dena Sue and a son, Dennis. Nancy passed away on March 30, 2007 just two weeks shy of their 60-year-anniversary. After graduating from High School in 1940, Denzyl taught at Hamm Rural School and then was drafted in the U.S. Army Signal Corp. He would serve in the southern United States, England, northern France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany, and “The Battle of the Bulge.” He drove a service truck and, with a small crew, installed communication systems in the 3rd and 5th armored front line tanks and armored carriers. He was honorably discharge on his 24th birthday. In January 1946, he started working for Dain Manufacturing Company which would later become John Deere Ottumwa Works. After working for 41 years, he retired from the Field Test Department and was the last of the Dain employees to retire. While working for John Deere he helped develop experimental farm machinery of all types for various field and crop conditions. Denzyl was a Scout Master of Troop 91 in Bloomfield for several years and helped with various camping trips and other activities including two trips to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. He is survived by a son, Dennis (Julie) Harbour of Bloomfield; daughter, Dena Sue Harbour of Bloomfield; six grandchildren, Travis (Jayne) Hartman, Tara (Tommy) Schlieper, Lindsey (David) Essary, Amy (Clinton) Urnez, Joshua Reed, Elizabeth Emmerich; eleven great-grandchildren; sister, Wila Harter of Bloomfield; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; and brother, Dwight Harbour. Graveside services with scattering of the cremated remains will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 28, 2016 at the Harbour Cemetery in Davis County with Pastor Dan Smith officiating. Military rites will be performed by Reed-Whisler Post #78 of the American Legion. A memorial has been established to the Davis County Historical Society.

Denzyl L. Harbour

November 21, 1921 - May 30, 2016