Charles "Tubby" Howe

Charles E. "Tubby" Howe, 94, of Waukon, IA, died peacefully in his sleep early Friday morning, January 7, 2011, at Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, January 11, 2011, at 11:00 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Fr. Joseph Schneider officiating. Burial will be at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM Monday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon where there will be a 4 PM scripture service.

Charles Edmund Howe was born on February 26, 1916, in Chester, IA, the son of Wilbur Thomson and Mabel Mae (Cheney) Howe. A grade school friend called him "Tubby, and he was affectionately known by that nickname the rest of his life. He grew up in Chester and Decorah IA, graduating from Decorah High School in 1934. Following high school, he worked in the poultry business and moved to Waukon when transferred there by his employer Decorah Produce. On November 27, 1941, he married Lorna Matilda Kilpatrick at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, West Ridge. Tubby was part owner of Connor, Peyton & Howe, a Ford car and tractor dealership until the business was split. He and Lorna continued the Ford tractor sales. After selling that business, he started a Minneapolis-Moline implement dealership. He and Lorna also operated a trucking company, backhoe business, mobile home court and laundromat. They especially enjoyed traveling with friends and attending fire department activities. Their grandchildren were their greatest joy. Tubby loved to spend time with them camping, fishing, teaching them to drive, and running model trains.


Tubby served his community as a city councilman and mayor. Since 1943, he was a member of the Waukon Pioneer Fire Company and had served as fire chief. For many years he could be found enjoying early morning coffee and road tours with his friends the "Snoop Sisters". Tubby was never far from his radios and scanners whether at home, driving the county roads in his pickup, or resting in his recliner at Good Sam.

Survivors include one son, Wayne (Janice) Howe of Waukon; seven grandchildren: Angela (Ron) Cooper of Lansing, Matt (Shelly) Howe of Waukon, Becky (Brad) Decker of Luana, John and Dan Howe both of Waukon, Tom Howe of Platteville, WI, and Zach Howe of Dubuque; nine great-grandchildren: Jordan, Danen, Courtney and Kendra Cooper, William and Grace Howe, Bronte, Desmond and Denzel Decker; a brother, Ken (Margie) Howe of Waukon; two sisters-in-law, Lilahann Kilpatrick of Waukon and Helen Kilpatrick of Colorado; a special niece, Angeline Schulte of Waukon, and numerous nieces, nephew, and cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife in 2000; an infant son, Robert, in 1953; and two sisters, Evelyn Bayer and Marjorie Baltes.

Honorary casket bearers are Angeline Schulte, Karen Whalen, Don and Rich Howe, Jerry Sommer, Jack Marsden, Tom Thomson, Dick Gearhart, Ben Quillin, Gary Berger, John Kerndt, Sr., and the Waukon Pioneer Fire Company. Casket bearers will be his grandchildren and great grandchildren.