Christopher Heartsill

C. Christopher Heartsill, 68, of Salem, IA died Tuesday, June 24, 2008, at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Visitation for Chris will held on Friday, June 27, beginning after 12 noon, at the Olson - Powell Memorial Chapel of Mt. Pleasant, where the family will greet friends from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. that evening. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 28, 2008, at 10:00 a.m., at the Open Bible Church, with Pastor Mike Johnson officiating. Burial will be in the Salem East Cemetery. Memorials have been established to the Salem Fire Department and the Ronald McDonald House in Iowa City. Born September 17, 1939, in Springer, OK, Chris was the son of Tonch C. and Helen Gibson Heartsill. A graduate of Springer High School, he moved to Iowa in 1959. On June 22, 1963, he married Betty Haushahn in Salem, IA. She survives. Growing up with rodeo, Chris became the youngest man to ever participate in rodeo as a pickup man at Madison Square Garden. Later he worked with his father producing rodeos. He was actively involved in his families' lives. After his children became high school age, he continued being involved in high school rodeos. He became a director for the Southeastern Iowa High School Rodeo Association. Chris was involved in farming and was also employed at Terra Chemicals in Winfield for many years. He then worked at Garretson, Inc. for a period of time before retiring. During retirement, he worked part-time for Green Thumb. Chris attended Open Bible Church in Mt. Pleasant, where he and his wife taught Sunday school to children for a number of years. Along with his wife, Betty, Chris is survived by four daughters, Shelley Heartsill of Salem, IA, Carrie (Alan) Settles of Mt. Pleasant, IA, Kelli (Jason) Nehring of New London, IA, and Traci (Lee) Lundvall of Wapello, IA; two sisters, Linda (Dick) Smith of Mt. Pleasant, IA and Judy Odom of Moore, OK; one brother, Harold (Janet) Heartsill of Dade City, FL; one half-brother, Greg (Angie) Heartsill of Chariton, IA; step-mother, Faye Heartsill of Salem, IA; one step-brother Charlie Brown of Cedar Rapids, IA; and one step-sister Christine (Kenny) Sylvester. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and several nieces and nephews. Chris was preceded in death by his father, mother, and a niece, Johannah.