Henry Robert Mackey

Henry R. Mackey, age 94, of Laurens, passed away on Saturday, February 18, 2023, at his home in Laurens, Iowa.

Henry Robert Mackey was born February 1, 1929, in Fonda, Iowa. He was the son of Matthew and Loretta (O'Brien) Mackey. Henry attended grade school in Fonda, then graduated from St. Columbkille High School in Varina in 1948. Following his graduation, Henry was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1951 - 1953. On January 30, 1956, Henry was united in marriage to Shirley Lampman at St. Columbkille Catholic Church in Varina. The couple lived in Albert City, where Henry drove gravel truck. In 1958, they moved to Laurens. Henry worked for Twin Draulics for several years before going to work for the Pocahontas County Road Dept., where he operated a maintainer and drove truck. He retired in 1992 after 30 years with the county.

Henry's faith was very important to him. He was a longtime member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Laurens and then Resurrection of Our Lord Catholic Church in Pocahontas. He was a 68 year member of the Laurens American Legion. He played high school basketball. He enjoyed camping, fishing, nature, and bird watching. He loved ice cream, peppermint candy, and most of all, he loved Shirley's homemade molasses cookies.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley of Laurens; daughters, Rhonda Mackey and her husband Michael Hafner of Letts, Ann DeLano of Coralville and Vicki Mackey of Fort Dodge, and one granddaughter, Amanda DeLano of Coralville.

Henry was preceded in death by his parents, Matt and Loretta; brothers, Bill, John, Matt, Gene and Rich Mackey, and sisters, Rose Kirsch, Harriet Goedert, Loretta Wolf and Pat Erickson.