Obituary of Tom Howard

Iowa City, Iowa

Thomas “Tom” Howard, 67, formerly of West Liberty passed away suddenly Saturday March 12, 2022 at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City.

Visitation will be held Thursday, March 17, 2022 from 5 to 8 P.M. at the Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Liberty. Funeral service will be held 11 A.M. Friday at the West Liberty Community Center, 1204 North Calhoun St. West Liberty. Burial will be in the Mt. Calvary Cemetery, West Liberty. 

Memorials may be made to a local food shelter or local humane society.

Tom was born March 5, 1955 the son of Robert and Edith (Handley) Howard. He was a graduate of West Liberty High School in 1974. In his early years Tom had worked for Walnut Grove in West Liberty and the Rock Island Railroad before beginning his career with Northstar Steel (now Gerdau) in Wilton where he worked for nearly 40 years, retiring in 2017. He was a member of the Steel Workers Union and the West Liberty Golf and Country Club. Tom had a heart of gold, and had many friends. He was an avid fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Green Bay Packers. He enjoyed golfing and traveling, and was masterful at delivering quick-witted one liners. He loved spending time with family, especially his beloved grandchildren, following and attending their activities whenever he could.

He is survived by three children: Jessica (Matt) Milden of Loveland, Colorado, Justin Howard of Scottsdale, Arizona and Jake (Katie) Howard of West Liberty, six grandchildren: Elliot and Etta Milden, Korbin and Kylie Howard and Charlie and Lucy Howard and his close friend Julie. Siblings: Eugene “Butch” Howard of Iowa City, IA; Ed (Barb) Howard of Manteno, IL; Bill (Wanita) Howard of Coralville, IA; Bob (Janet) Howard of Mountain Home, ID; Edie Heitzman of Surprise, Arizona, Theresa (Duane) Lukavsky of West Branch. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother James, sister Roberta Donaghu and infant brother Timothy Ryan.