Fiala, Harold Joseph

Harold Joseph Fiala, 78, of Solon, died Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009, at his home. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Brosh Chapel in Solon. Burial will follow in Oakland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the chapel. Full military rites will be conducted by the Solon American Legion Stinocher Post.

Harold was born March 3, 1931, in Ely, the son of Joseph P. and Dorothy M. Melsa Fiala. Harold graduated from Solon High School and went on to proudly serve his country in the U.S. Army. He married Phyllis M. Walderbach on April 29, 1954, in Stone City. Harold and Phyllis farmed in the Solon area for many years. He was a dairy farmer and was proud of his work on the farm. He had a passion for music, as well as enjoying the outdoors, including hunting and fishing.

He was fond of his time with his friends and family and will be greatly missed.

Harold is survived by his wife, Phyllis; children, Doreen Fiala (Anthony DeTommaso) of Roeland Park, Kan., Paula Fiala of Herndon, Va., Cheryl (Scott Leaverton) Fiala of Cedar Rapids and Andrea (Stacy) Johnson of Fayetteville, Tenn.; as well as five grandchildren, Madeleine DeTommaso, Emily Leaverton, Chloe Leaverton, Paul Spencer and Blake Johns; a former son-in-law, B.J. Leonard of Solon; brothers-in-law, Dick (JoAnne) Walderbach of Anamosa, Bob (Bonnie) Walderbach of Anamosa, Tom (Ann) Walderbach of Arkansas, Mick (Gayla) Walderbach of Arkansas and Bill (Jane) Walderbach of Colorado; a sister-in-law, Kris Walderbach (Warren) of Cedar Rapids; his mother-in-law, Ellen Walderbach of Anamosa; three special neighbor girls, Olivia, Aspen and Alyse Erenberger; and a nephew, Chad Walderbach of Cedar Falls.

He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Iowa City Hospice, the Solon American Legion Memorial Fund and/or to Saints Peter and Paul Foundation.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at