Earl Westphal

Funeral Services: Will be held on Tuesday, June 6, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. at the Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield with burial in the Fontanelle Cemetery, Fontanelle, Iowa. A luncheon will be held at the Greenfield United Methodist Church following the committal services at the cemetery. Pastor Eric Schubert will officiate the service.   

Family Visitation: The family will greet friends on Monday, June 5th, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Steen Funeral Home in Greenfield. 

Memorials: Memorials may be directed to the Earl Westphal memorial fund to be established by the family at a later date. 

Earl Westphal died peacefully on May 25, 2017, with family by his side. He was born at his parent's home in rural Greenfield, Iowa, on June 16, 1933, the oldest of three children.

Earl attended a one room school house in Summerset Township through 8th grade. He helped his father on the family farm in the midst of his four uncles and grandfather. His job was to help harrow the ground with the work horses lovingly called the "Junes".

He married Darlene Ruth on December 20, 1952. He worked in Greenfield for a few years and then moved to Storm Lake as a hired hand on a farm. Their time in rural Humbolt, Iowa, produced fond memories. Each month Earl and Darlene got together with other couples to play cards and exchange stories.

They moved to Belmond, Iowa with two daughters, Bethany and Laurie, in order to manage the Mobile gas station. He enjoyed servicing cars and trucks especially anything that needed mechanical attention. Their son, Todd, was born in Belmond. Shortly thereafter Earl began long haul trucking, including trips to the East coast. His kids especially enjoyed when he had a load form Hershey, PA, as there might be some leftover chocolate for them when he returned. Later he began driving for Conoco Oil Company. He transferred with this company to Santa Maria, CA. He earned a safety record of driving over two million miles.

He and his wife then relocated to Kingman, AZ. They have been residents there for 15 years. He never seemed to meet a stranger and if they lingered too long Earl would gladly share a strory or two.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clyde and Ellen Westphal; brother-in-law, Elbert Williams; and nephew, Tim Christensen.

He is survived by his wife Darlene of 64 years; sisters, Shirley Williams and Beverly Christensen; children, Bethany (Terry) Harpster, Laurette (Rich) Crain and Todd (Carol) Westphal; seven grandchildren, Heather, Chrystal, Cortney, Candace, Caleb, David and Aren; three great grandchildren, Ashton, Zoe and Ezekiel; other relatives and friends.