Harold L. Mersereau

Harold L. Mersereau, 91, of Mason City, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 7, 2013 at Good Shepherd Health Center. Memorial services will be held 11:00 AM Monday, March 11, 2013 at St. James Lutheran Church, 1148-4th St. S.E. with Pastor Paul Nelson officiating. Inurnment will be held at a later date. A gathering of friends and family will be held one hour prior to the services at the church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to St. James Lutheran Church or Hospice of North Iowa in Harold’s memory. He was born in Waldwick, NJ on September 23, 1921, to Joseph and Etta (Kinniburgh) Mersereau. His family later moved to HoHocas, NJ, where he spent most of his childhood years. Harold joined the Navy shortly after his 18th birthday in 1939 and was honorably discharged with seven Pacific Theater Battle Stars in 1945. Following the war, he was united in marriage to Evelyn J. Elgersma and to this marriage three sons were born: Carl, Larry and Kenneth. Harold moved to Marshalltown, IA, with his family in 1953 to work for Fisher Company. Later, Harold and Evelyn built three successful businesses in Marshalltown under the name “Tallyho”. Evelyn preceded him in death in 1973. Most of us feel fortunate to find true love once in our lives, but Harold found it twice when he married Ellie Peters Birdsall in 1976. He was embraced and loved by both Ellie and her children, Ann (Byron) Beasley, Mason City; Thomas (Julie) Birdsall, Mason City; and Susan (Paul) Orton, Steamboat Springs, CO. In addition to Ellie, Harold is survived by his sons: Carl (Jo) Mersereau of Des Moines; Larry (Sue) Mersereau of Des Moines; Kenneth (Kerri) Mersereau of Tampa, FL. Also left to cherish his memory are grandchildren: Jennifer (Brandon) Lee, Mike Mersereau, Jason Mersereau, Christen (Rod) Oskouian, Rob Beasley, and Abby Beasley; Paul Birdsall, Megan Birdsall, Sam, Haley and Jessica Orton; and great-grandchildren: Lucy, Nicholas, Sophie, Ava, Arya, Alina, and Leona. Harold is also survived by a sister, Verna Fedoriw of Monita, VA.