Herbert (Herb) Wallace Onstot, age 93, passed away peacefully on January 25, 2016, at the Black Hawk Life Care Center in Lake View, Iowa. 

   Herb was born on July 19, 1922, in Bronson, Iowa, to Philip and Minnie (Rasmussen) Onstot. His family moved from Bronson to Lake View in the early 1930s, shortly after the depression. Herb attended country school for elementary grades and graduated from Lake View High School in 1940. It was in high school where he met the love of his life, Darlene Phyllis Lille. They would marry in 1947 and be blessed with three children: Gregory Phil, Scott Herbert and Heidi Ann.

   Following high school graduation, Herb enrolled in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in Lake View, followed by employment at a bomber plant in St. Louis, Missouri, before he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He was assigned to a base on the small island of Tinian in the Mariana Islands located in the western North Pacific Ocean.

   At the conclusion of World War II, Herb returned to his native Iowa and began work as a salesman of agricultural products. Eventually, he and two partners founded Mid-States Equipment Company, Inc. in Lake View in 1949. Herb soon became the sole owner and served as President of the company until his retirement in 1985. During his tenure, he worked tirelessly to drive the sales of numerous farm equipment lines and continued to innovate as was his nature, most notably with the manufacturing of the Red Devil plow harrows and Spring Devil row crop cultivators. Herb never met a stranger and had a personality that endeared him to thousands of customers over the years.

   Herb also dedicated himself to the community of Lake View, driving numerous building, beautification and property development initiatives. He served on the Lake View Park Board, the original Lake View Senior Housing Board and helped arrange for the sale of the land where the Lake View Family Housing and Black Hawk Life Care Center are located. Herb was an Elder in the United Church of Christ and a member of the building committee instrumental in the construction of the present First Congregational United Church of Christ. He was a proud member of the Eilert Auen American Legion Post 133 and the Lake View Commercial (Community) Club. Herb was also a member of the Lake View-Auburn School Board and an original member of the Wall Lake View-Auburn Foundation, in which he established an endowed scholarship fund in his and Darlene’s honor for students in the East Sac County School District.

   Away from home, Herb had a passion for travel and kept detailed accounts of the adventures he and Darlene shared around the world. Their favorite destination was decidedly Puerto Vallarta, where they traveled frequently with family and almost every winter in the latter part of their lives. Herb also loved spending time “kicking back” with family and friends at their home on beautiful Black Hawk Lake.

   Herb’s loved ones will remember him as a generous, kind, sincere, hardworking and trusted man who loved life and found great pleasure in giving back and helping others. The enjoyment he realized from playing card games, driving Cadillacs, reading in his corner, shopping and sharing spirited laughs are also memories that will be recalled fondly by his family. Herb will be deeply missed by all who knew him, but no more than his bride of 68 years, Darlene, who was always by his side.

   Preceding Herb in death were his mother and father; brothers, Everett Onstot and Donald Onstot; and sisters, Lillian and Loretta. Surviving Herb are his loving and devoted wife, Darlene; his children, Gregory Phil (Nancy) Onstot of Springfield, Missouri, Scott Herbert (Janet) Onstot of Lake View, Iowa, and Heidi Ann (Bert) Johnson of Clive, Iowa; his grandchildren, Emily Elaine (Mike) Busch, Matthew Scott (Kelly) Onstot, Gregory James Onstot, Spencer Onstot (fiancé Nelly Hernandez) Johnson and Rachel Ann (Clint) Pickard; and great grandchildren Hayden Jane Busch, Farrah Mae Busch, and Easton Edgar Onstot.

   The family wishes to express sincere thanks to the staff at Black Hawk Life Care Center for their love and dedicated care of Herb for the past two years.

   In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be directed to the Herbert W. and Darlene P. Onstot Community Fund, c/o Farmers State Bank, Lake View, Iowa, 51450.  All memorial monies will eventually be distributed to local causes that were favorites of Herb and Darlene.