Obituary of Herbert Friis

The funeral service for Herb will be lived streamed via the Bethany Lutheran Church Facebook page and can be accessed by clicking the following link: https://fb.me/e/DPVehE2K    This will begin shortly before the service

West Branch

Herbert Friis, 84, passed away Sunday, March 12, 2023 at his home.  

A celebration of life service will be held at 10:00AM on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at the Bethany Lutheran Church in West Branch. A memorial visitation will be held 5:00-7:00PM on Friday at the Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Branch. Burial will be in the West Branch Cemetery. Memorials may be made to West Branch Fire Department, Camp Courageous or Children’s Tumor Foundation.

Herb was born on July 14, 1938 the son of Marius and Alice (Larson) Friis. He graduated from West Branch High School in 1956 and attended Iowa State University. Herb proudly served in the United States Army from 1957 to 1960.  On January 18, 1969 Herb was united in marriage to Karen Forrest in Cedar Rapids. He and Karen farmed together north of West Branch for over 50 years. In 1969 he was voted Outstanding young farmer and won many farm yield contests. He was one of the founding members of Donophan Corporation in Iowa and Missouri and was involved the Research Farm in Mount Pleasant.

He was a member of the Bethany Lutheran Church in West branch his entire life, working in many offices and committees.

Survivors include his wife: Karen Friis of West Branch; four children: James Friis, Jason Friis, Ellen (Joe) Ehle and Erin (Eric) Mok, and seven grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents,  two sons: Jon Friis and Joseph Friis, daughter in law: Shari, father and mother in law: William and Marie Forrest, brother Paul, sister in laws: Janet Friis, Jean Light and Kathleen Vanous as well as a brother in a law: Dale Light.