Three Decades of Faithful Service

By Mitchell Locigno and Dylan Fox

Harold John Gebhart

January 1, 1920 – April 10, 2009

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Harold during his tenure as an officer. (Courtesy of Making Everlasting Memories)

Harold John Gebhart was born to Bernard and Frances Gebhart on January 1, 1920 in Holy Cross, Iowa. He was the youngest of his four brothers: Chico, Arthur, Ervin, and Zeno.[1] Bernard Gebhart, the son of a German immigrant, provided for his family by working road construction; Frances’ mother was also born in Germany.[2] In 1937, Gebhart graduated from St. Francis Xavier High School in Dwyersville and left Iowa to pursue new opportunities.[3] Gebhart seems to have joined the US Army Air Corps in 1939; a year later, census data shows he was part of the US Army Air Corps Technical Training School at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver.[4] He was an enlisted private at this time.

After joining at just 19 years old, Gebhart served in the Army Air Corps and later in the Air Force for over thirty years; he retired on July 31, 1970.[5] Throughout his decades of service, Gebhart rose through the ranks from private to colonel. His service dates and headstone confirm that he served during three major wars: World War II, Korea, and Vietnam.[6] Gebhart’s journey through the ranks demonstrates his dedication throughout his time in the military. He was awarded a distinguished service medal for his efforts.

Harold and Ione together on their wedding. (Courtesy of Making Everlasting Memories)

Harold married Ione Becker on July 15, 1943 in Worthington, Iowa.[7] The two had four children: Ronald, Roberta, Denise, and Richard.[8] Ione worked as an elementary school teacher, owned a craft business, and volunteered with the Red Cross.[9] Both Harold and Ione were devout Catholics throughout their lives and volunteered with various charities; Harold dedicated much of his time to working with the Knights of Columbus, a catholic fraternal social order. As a “4th degree member” of the Knights of Columbus, Harold participated in charity projects such as the “Tootsie Roll Drive” that raised at least $300,000 for charities supporting the mentally disabled.[10] Harold passed away of natural causes on April 10, 2009 at the age of 89 in Aurora, Colorado.[11] Ione Gebhart passed away shortly thereafter on July 7, 2009.[12] After 66 years together, the two now share their eternal rest in Fort Logan National Cemetery.

Footnotes ↓

[1] “1930 United States Federal Census,” ancestry.com, entry for Harold Gebhart.

[2] “1930 United States Federal Census,” ancestry.com, entries for Bernard and Frances Gebhart.

[3] “Colonel Harold J. Gebhart - Biography,” Making Everlasting Memories (MEM), April 14, 2009, https://www.mem.com/Biography/2960548/12215810/12235283?title=Biography.

[4] “1940 United States Federal Census,” ancestry.com, entry for Harold Gebhart;

“Schools,” The Lowry Foundation, accessed October 3, 2021, https://lowryfoundation.org/lowry-legacy/schools/.

[5] “U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010,” ancestry.com, entry for Harold Gebhart.

[6] “Harold John Gebhart (1920-2009),” Find a Grave, accessed October 3, 2021, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36061810/ge.

[7] “Iowa, U.S., Marriage Records, 1880-1951,” ancestry.com, entry for Harold Gethart [sic] and Ione Becker.

[8] “Colonel Harold J. Gebhart - Family,” Making Everlasting Memories (MEM), April 14, 2009, https://www.mem.com/Genealogy/2960548/12131427/0?title=Family.

[9] “Ione J. Gebhart - Biography,” Making Everlasting Memories (MEM), July 8, 2009, https://www.mem.com/Biography/3092293/12215794/12235267?title=Biography.

[10] “Tootsie Rolls sweeten lives of mentally handicapped,” Denver Catholic Register, vol. LXXII (72), no. 10 (March 13, 1996): 11, Archdiocese of Denver Digital Repository, https://archives.archden.org/islandora/object/archden%3A9015/datastream.

[11] “Colonel Harold J. Gebhart - Biography,” Making Everlasting Memories (MEM).

[12] “Ione J. Gebhart - Biography,” Making Everlasting Memories (MEM).

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