Loras Michael Herting

Loras Michael Herting age 76 of Maquoketa, Iowa passed away on December 13, 2017 at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics.

There will be a visitation from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 19th, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road. A celebration of life service by Rev. Dianne Grace officiating and military honors by American Legion Post #6 will be at 6 pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Loras Herting Memorial Fund at the DuPaco Credit Union. Please join us in celebration of a life well-lived.

Those of us who were privileged to have known Loras know what an incredible brother, uncle, husband, father, and grandfather he was. He lived life to the fullest, enjoying the company of his family and traveling around the country with his soulmate, Claire. He was a man of few words, but what he did say mattered. Strong and hardworking in his youth, he became a tender and caring grandfather in his later years. Loras was a gentle, loving soul who will be sorely missed by all.

Loras Michael Herting was born in Dubuque, Iowa on October 12, 1941, to Leona (Roling) and Michael Herting and had twelve siblings. He served honorably in the US Air Force from 1959-1965 during the Vietnam Conflict. It was during this time that he met the lovely Claire Marie Rose Filteau in Canada, and held the rare distinction of being escorted back over the border into America by Canadian Mounties on several occasions, such was his desire to be with his love. They married on December 28, 1963, and went on to have five children.

Loras and Claire bought the farm they wanted in 1975. He was great with his hands, building the family home single-handedly over a span of years. Loras was always willing to lend a hand to others and loved fixing things. He worked in maintenance for the Fischer Company in Dubuque for over 20 years, then retired after working as a plumber for Willenborg Plumbing. For over 40 years, he and Claire had a corner at the Dubuque Farmers Market and many of you would be quick to recognize his smiling face working there every weekend.

In later years, he loved going on the annual family fishing trip to Cass Lake, MN and vacationing/visiting family with Claire. He was also a proud member of the American Legion, Post #6.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Claire; children: Mike (Laura), Chuck (Amy), Robert (Norma), Tony (Laurel) and Sonia (Billy) Wodrich; grandchildren: Marcus, Adam, Shalia, Tyler, Joan Claire, Elizabeth, Robert, William, Samantha, Gregory and Charlie; great-grandchildren: Bryson and Zayden; siblings: Emil, Nancy, Mary, Judy, Linda and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Michael and Leona; siblings: Earl, James, Luetta, Norma, Vern, Janet, and Anita. 

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