64668_Donald Grady_Harrer
MASON CITY | Donald Grady Harrer of Mason City died peacefully Nov. 19, 2013, in the loving company of family.
A Funeral Mass will be held Saturday, November 23, 10:30 a.m. at Epiphany Parish-Holy Family Catholic Church, 714 North Adams Avenue, Mason City, Iowa.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral mass at the church. Interment will be at Elmwood/St. Joseph Cemetery, 1224 South Washington, Mason City, Iowa, immediately following the mass.
Grady Harrer was born October 23, 1919, to the late Catherine Grady and George Harrer. Grady graduated from Mason City High School in 1937, attended the University of Notre Dame and graduated from the University of Iowa on the GI Bill after serving as an Army Air Corps pilot in World War II.
He was shot down over France in 1943 and was a prisoner of war at Stalagluft 1 in Barth, Germany for 15 months, and honorably discharged in 1945.
He was one of the “Flying Harrers,” which included his brothers, Jerry Harrer and the late Bob Harrer and two brothers-in-law, the late Jack Wallace and the late Hank Kislia, all of whom survived the war and returned to live long lives.
Grady married Betty Hakes May 11, 1943. Grady and Betty were high school sweethearts and were married for 59 years until her death in 2002.
He began his career as a sports announcer on KGLO Radio and spent most of his career managing television stations for Lee Enterprises Inc. Grady was the Assistant Manager of WMTV in Madison, Wisconsin, from 1958 to 1963. He then managed KEYC-TV in Mankato, Minn., from 1963 to 1979. He managed KIMT-TV in Mason City, Iowa, from 1979 until his retirement in 1981.
Golf was his sport and he was a member of Nakoma Golf Club in Madison, Wisconsin, 1958-1963, Mankato Golf Club in Mankato, Minn., from 1963 to 1979, and the Mason City Country Club, Mason City, Iowa, until he gave up golf in his 90th year. He was famed for his red golfing socks and red plaid pants. Grady was a past member of The Rotary Club and a past United Way Campaign Chairman.
Grady is survived by his daughters Maggie (Rick Henly) and their daughter Katie Henly of Oradell, N.J., his daughter Martha Harrer-Butler (the late Ken Butler) and their daughter Caitlin Butler of Los Angeles, Calif., his son John and his children Libby Ellis and Corky of Minneapolis, Minn., and the children of his late son Tom (Ann Lynaugh), Ellen Harrer of Chicago, Ill., and Max Milverstedt (Sara Yoder) and their children Sam and Charlie of Boulder Colo., his brother Jerry Harrer (Jo Hebel Harrer) and their children and grandchildren and sister Mary Ellen Harrer Condill (Jim Condill) and their children and grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews and their children.
Grady was predeceased by his wife, Betty, and his son, Tom, his parents, Kay and George Harrer, his brother Bob Harrer (the late Kay Burke Harrer), his sisters Katie Harrer Kislia (the late Hank Kislia) and Dorothy Harrer Wallace (the late Jack Wallace).
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Hawkeye Harvest Food Bank in Mason City, Iowa, the St. Joseph’s Indian School, Chamberlain, South Dakota, or your favorite charity.
Hogan-Bremer-Moore Colonial Chapel, 126 Third St. N.E., Mason City; 641-423-2372. ColonialChapels.com