Karl Mansfield Hertz

Visitation at the Mansfield-Hertz Funeral Home on Wednesday, April 21, at the Mansfield-Hertz Funeral Home from noon to 9 P.M. Karl Mansfield Hertz, age 62, of Malvern, Iowa passed away on April 16, 2010 in Malvern. Karl Mansfield Hertz, one of three sons of Clayton Leon "Bud" Hertz, Jr. and Lenore Ellen (Mansfield) Hertz, was born June 14, 1947 in Pomona, California. The family returned to Malvern, Iowa in 1948. Karl grew up in Malvern and graduated from Malvern High School in 1965. He attended Clarinda Community College and in 1968, graduated from the California College of Mortuary Science in Los Angeles. He returned home to Malvern to join his parents at the Mansfield Funeral Home along with their monument business and their ambulance service. On January 10, 1970, Karl and Teresa "Terry" Laray Jones were married at St. John's Lutheran Church in rural Hastings, Iowa. They made their home in Malvern and were blessed with three sons, Karl Edward "K.E." Hertz, Keith Eugene Hertz, and Kent Eric Hertz. In 1986 Karl and Terry expanded their business by purchasing the McKee Funeral Home in Carson, Iowa, and in 2003, the Raynor-Hardiman Funeral Home in Glenwood, Iowa. In 1997...[more]

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heir son, K.E, joined them in the family business. Karl loved and served his Malvern community, volunteering endless hours to the many programs and projects towards promoting "a better place in which to live". His dream of bettering Iowa did not have borders as he was also active in the surrounding communities. He served as president of the Malvern Commercial Club and the Malvern Rotary. In 1971, he saw the need for more advanced health care and became a charter member of Malvern Volunteer Rescue. By 1976, he had become the first volunteer licensed paramedic in Iowa. In 2000, Karl had responded to 1,755 documented calls and had served as Chief of the Malvern Volunteer Rescue Unit for 29 years. He continued to respond on calls, help and mentor and in 2009, was honored as Malvern EMT of the Year. He was the main force in implementing the "911" communication system in eastern Mills County. Karl was a 40 year member of the Malvern Volunteer Fire Department, and served on the Board of Directors of the Midland EMS Council and the Mills County Board of Health. Karl was a 20 year member and past president of the Malvern Park Board. Among other civic projects, he had an active role in the construction of the Malvern Swimming pool. He served three terms as Mayor of Malvern and spearheaded the downtown renovation project. Karl was an active parent in the Malvern School District. He and his wife supported many athletic and music booster programs. They introduced and helped organize Malvern's first Post Prom Party. Auto pushball, pioneered by the previous generation of the Dutch Gun Club, was one of Karl's favorite yearly events. Recently, as a member of the Malvern Area Betterment Association and strong supporter of the community, he helped secure funds to purchase and restore a tram for special events. He was a 40-year member of the Iowa Funeral Directors Association, past treasurer of the association, and had been currently serving as Iowa District Four Governor. In January 2010, Karl and Terry celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. Later that month, he suffered a heart attack. Karl enjoyed traveling with his family and friends and loved being with his wife, children, and grandchildren. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and a friend to many. Karl passed away on April 16, 2010, at his home in Malvern at the age of 62 years, 10 months, and 2 days. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bud and Lenore Hertz, uncle R. D. "Butch" Mansfield, uncle Howard Hertz, and father-in-law, Orlo R. Jones. Karl is survived by his wife Terry Hertz of Malvern; sons, Karl "K.E." Hertz and wife Teresa of Glenwood, Iowa, Keith Hertz and wife Krista of Lahaina, Hawaii, and Kent Hertz of Los Angeles, California; grandchildren, Jakob, Megan, Kiley, Hudson and Naiya Hertz; brothers, Clayton "Bud" Hertz and wife Ella of Claremont, California. and Kevin Hertz and wife Marcie of Ocheyedan, Iowa; mother-in-law Lola Jones of Malvern; aunts, Bonnie Mansfield of Malvern and Barbara (Hertz) Yehle and husband Bob of Laverne, California; great aunt Edna Hertz of Claremont; brother-in-laws, Orlo "Woody" Jones and wife Barb, Greg Jones and wife Cheryl, all of Malvern, and Rick Jones of Omaha, NE; sisters-in-law, Tam VanDerVeer and husband Jim of Knoxville, IA, and Elaine Jones of Cedar Rapids, IA; nieces, nephews and cousins; numerous other relatives; and a host of friends. A Memorial fund has been established. The Hertz family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude for all the sympathy extended toward their family at this difficult time.