West Branch, Iowa Herbert (Herb) Leth Espensen, 88 departed his physical life and entered into eternal rest at 3:45 A.M. Sunday, August 19th, 2012 at Mercy Hospice in Iowa City. A memory service will be held 5 P.M. Thursday August 23, 2012 at the Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Branch. Visitation will be held Thursday from 3 to 5 P.M. at the funeral home. Online condolence may be made to the family at www.hendersonbarkerfuneralhome.com. The family request that no flowers be sent. Instead, memorial contributions will go to the benefit of the Iowa City Hospice and the West Branch Fire Department. Herb was born in Muscatine, Iowa November 17, 1923, the son of Peter Leth and Minnie Marie Espensen as the 4th of 5 brothers. He spent his early life in West Branch. He started his education in the one room Prairie Knoll school located on his farm and went on to graduate from West Branch High School. He married Madeline Lucille Crew on December 8th, 1942. At the time of his marriage, he was employed by Baroid Oil Company. He, Madeline and baby Sue spent the next three years traveling the oil fields from Texas to Florida. In 1946, Herb returned to West Branch to take over the family farm. Having no farming experience, he relied on hard work, common sense and a special neighbor, Sherman Anderson to help him “learn the ropes” of farming. Many years later he was joined in the farming operation by his youngest son Brian. Herb remained active on the farm until recently. He would proudly tell people that he combined nearly all of the fall crop in 2011 at 87 year old. In addition to farming, Herb sold Pioneer seed for twenty six years. Herb was a 63 year member of the Masonic fraternity. He twice served as an officer at the state level. He served the West Branch community for 6 years on the school board, with two years as President. He was a longtime member of the West Branch Friends Church. Herb also served on the Board of the Ronald McDonald House in Coralville. Herb was predeceased by his parents, Peter and Minnie Espensen, 3 brothers: Henry Leth, Kenneth Leth and Lawrence Leth Espensen and son-in-law John Wargo. Herb is survived by his wife of 69 years 9 months, Madeline Espensen, 3 loving children: Susan K Wargo (special friend - Jerry Agne)of Tipton, Iowa; Henry(Hank) Espensen (Maureen)of Elgin, Illinois and Brian Leth Espensen (Janet) of West Branch. Eight grandchildren, Bradley(Barb) and Melinda Wargo (special friend Paul Lacey) , Cory(Jocelyn), Aaron, Linzee and Peter Espensen. 4 great grandchildren: Hunter and Jonathan Wargo, Anthony and Dominic Espensen, and Herb’s brother John Espensen of Canyon Lake, Texas.