Earl J. Moore

  Earl James Moore, age 97, passed away on Sunday, December 10, 2023, in Sioux City, Iowa. Visitation will be Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at Wesley Methodist Church on Indian Hills Drive, from 5-7 p.m. with family present. A Prayer Service will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the church. Funeral services will be held at Wesley Methodist Church on Thursday, December 14, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be at Graceland Park Cemetery. Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be directed to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

  Earl was born February 3, 1926, on a farm east of Bronson, Iowa, to Dorothea (Boehm) and James De Witt Moore. He attended elementary and junior high school at Windy Hill and Climbing Hill. Foster parents Les and Violet Kenney nurtured Earl’s interest in sports and provided a loving home. He was a standout athlete at Bronson High School where he played basketball and baseball. After graduation, he entered the U.S. Air Force where he played baseball.

  Earl attended Iowa State University from 1946-48, belonged to Sigma Nu Fraternity, and played centerfield for the Cyclones. He graduated with a degree in Business from Iowa State Teacher’s College (now University of Northern Iowa) in 1949. He earned a Master’s and Doctor of Education Degrees from the University of South Dakota.

  Earl was united in marriage August 21, 1949 to Joyce Darlene Adams. They were married 74 years. After their marriage Earl taught one year at Bronson High School and coached both girls’ and boys’ basketball. The boys’ team won 22 games and came within one game of making it to the State tournament. He turned down a $100 raise and relocated to Beemer, Nebraska where he taught business and coached boys’ basketball, baseball, and was an assistant football coach from 1950-54. In 1954 Earl bought one-half interest in National Business Training School in Sioux City and taught and coached there from 1954-58. He made his final move in public education moving to Central High School where he taught business and was a counselor from 1958-63. His final teaching position, his longest from 1964-1990 was as a professor of psychology and department chair at Morningside College. He loved Morningside and was a

devoted football and basketball fan.

  Earl belonged to American Legion Post 64, Masonic Lodge, Wesley United Methodist Church, Coachman Camping Club, and was a member and past president of Interpro. For fourteen years he worked with the Bureau of Indian Affairs traveling to Alaska, Maine, Florida, Arizona and New Mexico counseling Native Americans about alcoholism. He served as a Woodbury County Court mediator and enjoyed his volunteer job as a docent at the Lewis and Clark Center in Sioux City.

  From 1990-2021 Earl and Joyce spent their winters in Bonita Springs, Florida. They enjoyed golf, softball, playing cards and games, and getting to meet wonderful new neighbors. While there they belonged to Community Congregational Church and were weekly volunteers at the church thrift store.

  Earl was an avid camper, fisherman and enjoyed bowling and golf. He especially enjoyed summer camping trips to Sibley State Park in Minnesota when the extended Iowa and Minnesota familes would meet for campfires, fishing, and long talks around the campfire.

  He and Joyce took great pride in their home, yard, beautiful flowers and abundant garden. In later years they especially enjoyed helping caterpillars become butterflies. They were also world travelers visiting 36 countries including China, Egypt, Russia, the Holy Land, many European and Central American destinations.

  Earl is survived by Joyce, his wife of 74 years; daughter Terry (Jim) Spranger of Bettendorf and Bonita Springs; Steve Moore and the late Peggy Young of Bronson; Kim (Brian) Linafelter of Sioux City; grandchildren: Erin Johnson, Seth (Brooke) Gackle, Meghan (Ross) Heaton, Bret (Michelle) Spranger, and Rene (Channen) Smith, Richie Huss and Heather Saltzgiver; great-grandchildren: Indigo, River, Gogo, Avery, Mckinlee, Hayden, Vada, Zoe and Schuyler; many nieces and nephews; and special personal friends: Dale Burns, Don Heilbuth, and Debbie Cannon.

  He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Harold, Mildred, Ralph, and Gladys.

  A special thank you to the staff at Northern Hills for providing loving care for Earl.

  Memorials may be made to the Psychology Department at Morningside College.