Walter Lloyd Halvorson

Walter Lloyd Halvorson, 81, of rural Waukon, IA, died following a lengthy illness on Monday, January 27, 2020, at Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 1st, at 10:00 AM at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon with Pastor Matthew Majewski officiating. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery, rural Waukon. Friends may call from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM on Friday at Martin Funeral Home.

Walter Lloyd Halvorson was born November 17, 1938, in Buchanan County, IA, the son of Harry and Malinda (Brinker) Halvorson. In 1947, they moved from the family farm in Ryan, IA, to their farm in Jefferson Township, rural Waukon, IA. Walter was baptized and confirmed at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon and attended Center Baptist Church in rural Lansing, IA.

He was a farmer who specialized in dairy and raising registered Guernseys. Walter loved his family, cows, dogs, and cats and each one was special to him. He was active in the farm community and sold seed corn in addition to running his farm. In 1997, Walter retired from the dairy farm. He was a member of the National, State, and District Guernsey Breeders Associations. He served on the Allamakee Dairy and DHIA Boards and was also a Township Clerk for 16 years. He received numerous dairy awards including the 1990 Allamakee County Distinguished Dairyman Award and the 2011 Iowa Pioneer Guernsey Breeder Award. Walter believed God allowed him to farm and he tried to take care of the soil and water on the land as best he could.

In 1992, Walter married Sherry Hartwig and they had many happy years together dairy farming and raising raspberries. Upon retirement, he liked gardening and baking, especially his rhubarb cake. Walter liked gospel music and listening to his wife sing and was an avid toy tractor collector. He enjoyed baseball and was a fan of the Milwaukee Brewers and Chicago Cubs. Walter was always ready to lend a helping hand and was a loving and giving person who was active in and donated to Corner of Hope, Operation Christmas Child, St. Jude's Children Hospital, and wherever else there was a need.

Survivors include his wife Sherry of rural Waukon; stepson James (Denise) Mobley of Austin, TX; his sister Dorothy Sandry of Lansing, IA; nephew David Sandry; niece Julie (Adam) Quandahl and grandniece and nephew Carli and Zachary Quandahl; his brother Vernon Halvorson of Meriden,CT; niece Tamara (Peter) Medved and grandniece Vanessa (Adam) Reszko and grandnephew Sagan Medved; niece Brenda (Liam) Coleman; nephew Dean Halvorson and grandnephew Dean V. (Elyse) Halvorson and their son Eli and grandnephew Jeffrey Halvorson; brother-in-law Heinie (Amy) Hartwig of Soulsbyville, CA; sister-in-law Tanya (Terrill) Jordon of Paradise, CA; in addition to his many loving cousins.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents; a brother-in-law Richard Sandry; and a sister-in-law Kathryn Halvorson.

Honorary casketbearers are Myriam and Dale Brandt, Carl and Betty Christianson, Elmo and Sherry Hagen, Dennis and Jane Meyer, Dr. Todd Hanson, Frank and Carol Sivesind, and all his many dear and caring friends. Casketbearers are Dave Sandry, Adam and Zach Quandahl, Brad Decker, Todd Blake, and David Meyer.