Charles Lawrence Van Horn

Charles L. Van Horn passed away peacefully on May 9, 2026, at the age of 95. Born, November 2, 1930 to Lawrence & Doris (Weston) Van Horn, Charlie lived in Mason his whole life growing up in the 1930s when times were not easy. He attended country school and graduated from Mason High School in 1950. He entered the US Army in March of 1951 and was assigned to the ERC Signal Corp, Fifth Army, which laid the foundation for his working career. After his honorable discharge, he returned to Mason and entered as an apprentice with the IBEW Local 665, eventually achieving journeyman status. He met and married Delores Heathman in 1959 and together they raised three children.

His military training attracted him to the side work of fixing radios and televisions and also installing antennas throughout the 1960s. When not working, he enjoyed bowling. He joined the Monday night Mason 800 league in 1963 and remained on the league bowling every year thereafter right up to this year. He rolled two perfect 300 games and two 299 games all after he was 70 years old and was given the honors of being inducted in the Mason City Limits Hall of Fame. His dedication of 63 years on the Monday night bowling league brought him his final honor by having the League renamed after him.

Charlie retired from IBEW after 37 years of service, and faithfully remained a loyal Local 665 member being the second oldest remaining member with 71 years of continuous membership. He was an avid believer in the union and skilled trades. He was a member of the Holt American Legion Post 238 for 39 years. Upon his retirement, he enjoyed his woodworking and became well known to be the guy to take old furniture to for repairs. He was always moving and doing something, whether it be for others or for himself. He enjoyed a very good and healthy life up until the very end. He will be missed by many, but mostly by his family.

Surviving him are his brother Jan (Jeannie) Van Horn; his brother-in-law Thomas Heathman, his loving children Bruce Van Horn, Robert (Karen) Van Horn and Julie Van Horn; 5 grandchildren: Shaun (Melanie), Katie, David, Nicholas (Tabitha), and Michael (Sarah); 9 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Delores, his sister Louise (Van Horn) Frazier, his daughter-in-law Becky, and several brothers and sisters in-law.

A service will be held early this summer, a date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Legion Post 238 in Holt.