HIGLEY, Howard

The painting Howard Higley did of a photo of the Hiking Club at the White Pine cabin in 1944. The painting includes hiker names and the plaque above the fireplace with Ross Harris' name, the Senior High teacher who led the project. Photo courtesy: Richard "Dick" Vorwald

HIGLEY, Howard. (Dubuque, IA, June 11, 1922--Dubuque, IA, Mar. 16, 2018) Howard was the son Howard Woodruff and Margaret (Fosselman) Higley. He graduated from DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL and was part of the class in the 1930s that built the cabin at White Pine Hollow. Work was directed by Ross Harris, a teacher and one of the founders of the Dubuque County Conservation Society. (1) He enlisted in the army during WORLD WAR II. He completed training for the signal corp at Northern State University, Aberdeen, S. D. Higley achieved the rank of sergeant while serving in the Army Signal Corps in both the European and Pacific theaters of war and completed his education with a Bachelor degree from the UNIVERSITY OF DUBUQUE.

He married Joan K. Curtis HIGLEY on December 30, 1950. Howard and his brother John and their partner Ed Meyer owned HIGLEY-MEYER ELECTRIC COMPANY.

Howard and Joan instilled a love of the outdoors and nature in their three children, Howard Roy, Mary Jo, and Jan. He and Joan enjoyed their cottage at Fentress Lake and took their children on numerous car trip adventures all over the United States and Canada. They also traveled with the Iowa Mountaineers and hiked locally with the MISSISSIPPI TRAILS HIKING CLUB. Howard, as a 53 year member, held the title for most lifelong hikes for several years. After their children were off to college, Howard and Joan traveled the world over with the Iowa Mountaineers, and attended numerous Elder Hostels. Howard traveled Europe, climbed Kilimanjaro in Africa, and Machu Picchu in Peru, toured Egypt and the Holy Land, Russia and even visited Cuba.

For many years he and Joan wintered in McAllen, Texas and helped across the border with Children's Haven International, where they sponsored a young girl, Nora Rios (Gonzalez) who is now married with children of her own and thought of Howard and Joan as beloved grandparents. Howard was always busy, trying new activities and was very artistic and creative; painting, sketching, sculpting and exploring modern art.

Howard was involved in the organization of the DUBUQUE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY and the Friends of the Mines of Spain. He was a member of the Board of Four Mounds, a volunteer with Friends of Carnegie Stout Library and active in the Rotary Club, Dubuque Businessmen's Association, and Dubuque Audubon Society. He was a longtime member, of Gracepoint Presbyterian church, (formerly, THIRD PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH). At the suggestion of Higley, in June, 2006 the Julien Dubuque Chapter of the DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION rededicated a limestone marker and plaque at the end of Julien Dubuque Drive commemorating the meeting of Julien DUBUQUE and Lt. Zebulon Montgomery PIKE. The original monument, erected in 1923, was located along CATFISH CREEK was not easily seen. Financial help came through the Daughters of the American Revolution, Whitetails Unlimited, and private donations. Work was carried out through efforts of the Friends of the Mines of Spain and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources. (2)

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Source:

1. Vorwald, Richard (Dick), letter received on May 9, 2020

2. Reber, Craig, "Pike's Historic Meeting Monumental," Telegraph Herald, June 16, 2006, p. 1

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