Roy Allen, son of George H. and Minnie Cecelia (Jensen) Struve, was born March 1, 1924 at home on the farm south of Manning, Iowa. He attended school in Manning and graduated with the Class of 1941. Roy was active in 4-H and started farming with his dad. He and his dad pooled their savings and were able to purchase the farm that his parents had been renting. Roy was drafted into the United States Army in 1946 near the end of World War II. He served as a supervisor at the Post Exchange Warehouse while stationed in South Korea. He received his honorable discharge on June 2, 1947. Roy returned to the farm life in Iowa.
Roy was united in marriage with Virginia Anne Lafferty on November 27, 1954 at St. Joseph’s Church in Carroll. They had met at a dance at the Starline Ballroom in Carroll and attended many dances over the years. Roy and Virginia lived and farmed south of Manning. Raising commercial beef cattle and SPF hogs were their main focus. Roy had worked with Dr. Merrick, DVM to perfect the process of birthing disease free hogs and then, along with Lloyd Knott, to draft rules and regulation for the SPF Swine Association. Roy needed Virginia to be at home to answer the phone for his business of selling SPF Hampshire and Yorkshire breeding stock hogs all over Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri.
In addition to the hogs, they raised four children. Jim was born in 1955 and lives in Des Moines. Carol was born in 1957 and married Doug Musfeldt in 1978 and lives in Kansas City, MO. Jo Ann was born in 1958 and married Doug Hanselman in 1982 and lives in Ankeny. Dick was born in 1959 and married Diane Null in 1991 and lives in Gilbert.
Roy was a member of Sacred Heart Parish in Manning. He was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars where he was a charter member of the ceremonial team. Roy was the founding president of the Carroll County Pork Producers and was a director of the Carroll County Soil Conservation Board and Manning School Board. Roy and Virginia retired from farming, sold their acreage and rented out the farm ground before moving into their new home in Manning in 2000.
On April 26, 2016, Roy died at St. Anthony Hospital in Carroll at the age of 92 years, 1 month and 25 days.
Preceding him in death are his parents and two half-sisters Leona Nulle and Gladys McWilliams.
He is survived by his wife Virginia Struve of Manning; four children James Struve of Des Moines; Carol Musfeldt (Doug) of Kansas City, MO; Jo Ann Hanselman (Doug) of Ankeny and Richard Struve (Diane) of Gilbert; seven grandchildren; one great grandchild; two sisters Ruby Edmunds of Manning and Ruth Gerken of Omaha and other relatives and friends.
Doug Musfeldt Ben Musfeldt Doug Hanselman
Sam Hanselman Nathan Hanselman Matthew Hanselman
Honorary Casket BearersSarah Pfeifer Hannah Pfeifer Abby Musfeldt Halle Musfeldt
Interment with Military Honors
Manning Cemetery, Manning, Iowa
American Legion Post 22
VFW Post 3517
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