Floyd Herum

Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, January 16, 2026, with the funeral service to follow at 11:00 a.m. Friday, at the Celebration Center of Friendship Haven with Pastor Denise Halverson officiating. Private interment with military honors will be held in Oakland Cemetery. Gunderson Funeral Home and Cremation Services are entrusted with the arrangements.

Floyd Lyle Herum, the son of Percy and Leona (Iverson) Herum, was born on March 2, 1928, in Dolliver, Iowa. His parents farmed in the Dolliver area for several decades, and Floyd was the first in his family to attend college. He earned both his BS in 1953 and his Masters in 1954 at Iowa State University. He continued his education and was ultimately awarded a Doctorate of Agricultural Engineering (PhD) from Purdue University. He then joined The Ohio State University and was a full professor there for 26 years.

He served in the U.S. Army twice. He was part of the American forces that served in Japan following WWII and then recalled for Korea. He later served as the Ohio liaison officer for the US Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. He retired with 20 years of service as a Captain in the US Air Force.

Floyd was united in marriage to Melva Highland in 1952. They resided in Ames, Iowa, Urbana, Illinois, W. Lafayette, Indiana, and Columbus, Ohio, where Floyd’s educational and professional career took them, including one year in Baghdad, Iraq and two years in Piracicaba, Brazil.

Dad was a prototypical engineer. He was constantly fixing and tinkering on old motors and other electronics. He served as the Lieutenant Governor for the Kiwanis and later his compatriots in the Golden K, supported financially many Webster County and Fort Dodge philanthropic organizations, enjoyed working on his acreage, wood working, and our annual fishing trip to Ballards at the Lake of the Woods.

Floyd and Melva enjoyed extensive travel, especially riverboats crossing Europe, had visited all seven continents, including twice to Antarctica, and twice around the world.

Floyd is survived by his son Bob (Teri) Herum, daughter Donna Herum (Kevin Reid), and grandson Nick and Christina (Wells). He also has five remaining siblings: Vivian, Annette, Wilma, Lois, and Ken. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Barbara, and wife Melva. He also leaves a special friend, Marilyn Harder.

The family would like to thank the staff of Friendship Haven and UnityPoint Hospice for their exceptional care for Floyd over the last several months. Memorials may be directed towards Pheasants Forever or Webster County Conservation.