Alfred "Al" Hughes
July 10, 1949 — February 17, 2015
Alfred John Hughes was born on July 10, 1949 to Glenn and Bernadine Hughes in Akron, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Akron where he remained a member for twenty years. He attended Akron Community grade school and graduated with the Class of 1968 from Alcester High School in Alcester, South Dakota. He completed a mechanical school course in 1969.
On June 21, 1969, he was united in marriage to Henrietta “Hank” Leenderts at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in his hometown. They moved northwest of Portsmouth, Iowa, where Al began farming on the Hughes homestead later that year. He worked in Hide Cellar for Spencer Foods in Oakland Iowa from 1971 to 1985. In 1986, he started working at Harlan Pork Producers for one year and worked at Packers Hide from 1988 until his death.
He was a hard worker and thoroughly enjoyed farming, raising livestock, and his job at Packers Hide but his greatest love was his children, grandchildren, and spending time with his family. He enjoyed nothing more than to take his grandchildren fishing, going to rodeos, tractor pulls, and attending their sporting events. He never turned down an opportunity to give them rides around the farm or around the section on the 4-wheeler.
Al took great pride in his sweet corn patch and supplied his family, friends, and neighbors with sweet corn all summer. He was a fundamental piece of the parish picnic for over thirty years by grilling the hamburgers and polish sausages.
Al lost his battle with cancer on Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at his home in Portsmouth. He had attained the age of sixty-five years, seven months, and seven days. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Ronald, Richard, Samuel, and William Hughes; sister Diane Otten; and grandson Andrew.
He is survived by his wife of forty-five years Hank Hughes of Portsmouth, Iowa; children: Shelley and her husband Paul Schmitz of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Cindy and her husband Jay Schechinger of Westphalia, Iowa, Todd Hughes of Persia, Iowa, and Angie Hughes of Council Bluffs, Iowa; grandchildren: Catie, Spencer, Ella, Audrey, Jamie, Bobbie, Abbie, John, Tyler, Tristen, and Allie; sisters: Aldine and her husband Richard Meinen of Katy, Texas, Maryilyn and her husband Larry Tucker of Bolingbrook, Illinois, Connie Boettger and her companion Don Thoms of LeMars, Iowa, Glenda and her husband Dennis Dunaway of Portsmouth, Iowa, and Patricia and her husband Mike Toben of Utica, South Dakota; brother James Hughes and his wife Julia of Alcester, South Dakota; sisters-in-law Sylvia Hughes of Akron, Iowa and Donna Hughes of LeMars, Iowa; brother-in-law Junior Otten of Spink South Dakota; other family members and many friends.
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On June 21, 1969, he was united in marriage to Henrietta “Hank” Leenderts at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in his hometown. They moved northwest of Portsmouth, Iowa, where Al began farming on the Hughes homestead later that year. He worked in Hide Cellar for Spencer Foods in Oakland Iowa from 1971 to 1985. In 1986, he started working at Harlan Pork Producers for one year and worked at Packers Hide from 1988 until his death.
He was a hard worker and thoroughly enjoyed farming, raising livestock, and his job at Packers Hide but his greatest love was his children, grandchildren, and spending time with his family. He enjoyed nothing more than to take his grandchildren fishing, going to rodeos, tractor pulls, and attending their sporting events. He never turned down an opportunity to give them rides around the farm or around the section on the 4-wheeler.
Al took great pride in his sweet corn patch and supplied his family, friends, and neighbors with sweet corn all summer. He was a fundamental piece of the parish picnic for over thirty years by grilling the hamburgers and polish sausages.
Al lost his battle with cancer on Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at his home in Portsmouth. He had attained the age of sixty-five years, seven months, and seven days. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Ronald, Richard, Samuel, and William Hughes; sister Diane Otten; and grandson Andrew.
He is survived by his wife of forty-five years Hank Hughes of Portsmouth, Iowa; children: Shelley and her husband Paul Schmitz of Council Bluffs, Iowa, Cindy and her husband Jay Schechinger of Westphalia, Iowa, Todd Hughes of Persia, Iowa, and Angie Hughes of Council Bluffs, Iowa; grandchildren: Catie, Spencer, Ella, Audrey, Jamie, Bobbie, Abbie, John, Tyler, Tristen, and Allie; sisters: Aldine and her husband Richard Meinen of Katy, Texas, Maryilyn and her husband Larry Tucker of Bolingbrook, Illinois, Connie Boettger and her companion Don Thoms of LeMars, Iowa, Glenda and her husband Dennis Dunaway of Portsmouth, Iowa, and Patricia and her husband Mike Toben of Utica, South Dakota; brother James Hughes and his wife Julia of Alcester, South Dakota; sisters-in-law Sylvia Hughes of Akron, Iowa and Donna Hughes of LeMars, Iowa; brother-in-law Junior Otten of Spink South Dakota; other family members and many friends.
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