Henry “Hank” Junior Biere

Henry “Hank” Junior Biere

Anamosa

Henry “Hank” Junior Biere, 89, was born Sept. 6, 1933, to Henry Biere Jr. and Minnie Rix Biere, and passed away on March 14, 2023, in his home at New Aldaya Lifescapes in Cedar Falls, Iowa. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 22, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Anamosa, Iowa. Visitation will be at the church from 12:30 to 2 p.m., with the service following at 2 p.m. A time for fellowship will follow the service. Pastor Rodney Bluml will be the officiant. Goettsh’s Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Hank grew up on a farm in rural Jones County and graduated from Olin High School in 1950. He farmed with his father for two years before enlisting in the Air Force. He served his country for four years as a crew member on the B-36 bomber. Hank and Karen Hartwig were united in marriage on June 22, 1956. Together they proudly parented two sons, Allen Ray and James Lynn.

Hank went on to graduate from the University of Iowa in the summer of 1960 and began a 34-year career of teaching science at Anamosa High School that fall. He was an excellent teacher and also enjoyed coaching the Girls Golf team. Hank was gifted with a beautiful tenor voice and he shared that gift whenever he could. He loved singing the barbershop style of music, singing in and directing numerous choirs, and singing many solos throughout his life. Hank was in his element when he was singing, especially when he was singing the lead part in a barbershop quartet.

After retiring in 1994, he and Karen moved to Arkansas where he continued to use his voice in many ways. They moved back to Anamosa in 2002 and then to New Aldaya Lifescapes in 2020.

Hank was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Rotary International, the American Legion, National Education Association and the Barbershop Society of America.

Hank is survived by his wife, Karen; two sons, Allen (Brenda) of Cedar Falls and James (Willie) of Moreno Valley, Calif.; two grandchildren, Rachel (Brandon) Hundt of St. Paul, Minn., and Andrew of Cedar Falls; three great-grandchildren, Zoe, Maisie and Jonas Hundt; his sister, Doris Henderson of Cedar Falls; and sisters-in-law, Madge Hartwig of Wyoming, Iowa, and Janice Hartwig of Eldridge, Iowa; and many nieces and nephews.

Hank was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers and their wives, Howard and Helen, Raymond, and Irene, Norman and Bernita, and Fredrick and Jean; three brothers-in-law, William Henderson, Loren Hartwig and Mark Hartwig; as well as two nieces and two nephews.

Hank touched many people in his lifetime through his teaching, community involvement, coaching and singing. He has left behind a wonderful legacy and will be missed by many.

In lieu of flowers, the family would request memorial gifts be made to one of the following four organizations that were important in Hank’s life: St. Paul Lutheran Church in Anamosa, Jones Regional Medical Center in Anamosa, New Aldaya Lifescapes in Cedar Falls or UnityPoint Hospice in Waterloo.