Harold “Deac” Deskin, 86, went to be with the Lord on Friday, Nov. 2 2012. Harold passed away comfortably in Newton, Iowa, his home of over 60 years.

Harold was born Harold Lewis Deskin in Hocking, Iowa, Sept. 9, 1926, to Lewis and Elizabeth Deskin, the first of four boys. The family moved to Albia, where Harold grew up and graduated from high school. He answered the call of the Greatest Generation and served his country in World War II in Europe, receiving an honorable discharge in 1946. Harold then went to the University of Iowa and graduated with a bachelor of science degree and accepted a position with The Maytag Company as an Industrial Chemist, where he worked for 38 years prior to his retirement. Harold missed ½ day of work with the flu in 38 years with Maytag.  

Harold married the love of his life, Margaret Bettis, also of Albia, June 30, 1951, and was devoted to Margaret through 61 wonderful years of marriage. They had two children, Deborah Deskin Bennett of San Rafael, Calif., and Mark Deskin of Montrose, Colo. Deac was a lifelong golfer and continued that passion in retirement, golfing several times per week. He enjoyed going for walks, taking care of his house and yard and shoveled a lot of snow. He and Margaret were lifelong members of First United Methodist Church and were active in the church. They enjoyed their friendships with other couples in retirement locally and had wonderful times playing bridge, going out for dinner and spending time with their good friends. They got the opportunity to travel in retirement, and among other trips abroad, re-visited Switzerland and Italy, two of the countries Harold saw during World War II.