Harold "Babe" Hering

Harold "Babe" Hering, age 90, of Eau Claire, passed away peacefully on September 25, 2015 at Dove Healthcare-West. Babe was born in Eau Claire on July 27, 1925 to Irene (Marten) and Ira Hering, Sr. He attended Eau Claire High School, graduating in 1943. On January 25, 1958 he married Beverly Kelley, the love of his life. Babe and Bev met on the dance floor in 1952 at the Idlewild Ballroom, where they fell fast in love. They danced to the music of many famous big bands including Les Brown and his Band of Renown, The Paul Whiteman Orchestra, Sammy Kaye, Eddie Howard and regional favorites Howie Sturtz and Conrad Johns. Their favorite song was "Maybe". Though they never took a single dance lesson, they had an undeniably smooth, natural style of their own. Early on, they might dance four or five times in one week. They continued to dance weekly, attending dances every Friday or Saturday night, through this very year. Their energy was matchless: one night when the family was having a holiday party, it was lamented that Bev and Babe must have decided to stay in, understandable for two people in their late 80's. Just before midnight, as some people were calling it a night, they came waltzing in all dressed up, explaining that they had decided to go dancing before coming to the party! Babe started playing accordion in his father Ira's oldtime band when he was 19 years old. They played the Pine Lodge, the Moose Lodge, the old State Theater, and Club 37. Once Ira passed on, Babe carried on the family tradition of Hering's Band, inviting his son Bruce to play trumpet in the band starting at age 12. Babe continued to play into his 80's, playing solo accordion on the "nursing home circuit", bringing tears of joy to many residents all over the Chippewa Valley. Babe enjoyed golfing, where he was famous for his consistently straight as an arrow drives, which was a major reason he acheived not one, but two hole-in-ones. He was a masterful trout fisherman and regularly caught his limit while his kids swatted mosquitos and watched in awe. The whole family loved camping, and each night the entire campground would gather around a campfire with Babe leading a sing-along on his accordion. He and Bev excelled at gardening, with a huge flower and vegetable garden behind their backyard. Many summers would end with Babe standing next to his towering 12' tall sunflowers, gigantic corn stalks, and beautiful flowers and produce. Babe and Bev owned and ran a small dairy farm on Jeffers Road until 1967. Babe then worked at Ed Phillips & Sons until retiring in 1985. He was the "temporary" Administrator of the Eau Claire Moose Lodge 1408 for 32 years. Babe earned the highest Moose honor, the Pilgrim Degree, in 1971. He and Bev were not just members of the club, but part of a closeknit group of friends who built the club from the ground up. Babe, Dad, Grandpa, Uncle, friend....he was a kind, gentle man. None of us ever knew a kinder, gentler man. He will live on in all of our hearts forever. He will be missed by Bev, his wife of 57 years; his son, Bruce (Lisa O'Brien) Hering; his daughter and son-in-law, Barb and Scott Eisold; grandchildren Ben (Kelly) Hering, Nick (Jayme) Eisold, Allie (Chris) Beyl, Jake Hering, Greg Eisold, Amanda Franson, Tommy Franson; great grandchildren, Austin and Charlotte Beyl; sisters-in-law Arlene Hering and Shirley Welter; caregiver and niece Julie Welter; Jamie Patti; Keith Franson; special neighbors Lynda Olson and Annie Montgomery; and many other wonderful relatives and friends. Special thanks to the wonderful care given by Dove Healthcare-West, the Mayo Hospice staff and Dr. Demming He was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Sue Franson, and brother Ira Hering, Jr. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, September 30th from 5 to 7 p.m. at the WEST CHAPEL of Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home (1405 North Clairemont Ave). The Loyal Order of the Moose Ritual will be held at 7pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12 noon on Thursday, October 1st, at St. James the Greater Catholic Church (2502 11th St.), with Father Thomas Kreig officiating. Visitation at the church will be held one hour before the Mass. A luncheon will be held immediately after the Mass, followed by inurnment at Rest Haven Cemetery, Eau Claire.

Service Information

Cemetery

Rest Haven Cemetery
5750 Old Town Hall Road
Eau Claire WI 54701

Visitation

Wednesday, September 30 2015
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Lenmark Gomsrud Linn Funeral & Cremation Services West Chapel
1405 North Clairemont Avenue
Eau Claire WI 54703

Mass of Christian Burial

Thursday, October 1 2015
11:00 PM

St. James the Greater Catholic Church
2502 11th Street
Eau Claire WI 54703