Make Arrangements for a Recent Death

Advanced Planning

What is Hamilton's Academy of Grief and Loss?

Death and grief are common human experiences, yet these experiences tend to be different for every individual. As a result, Hamilton's Academy of Grief & Loss offers a wide variety of resources available to you and your family as you begin to work through your grief.
· Learn More

Grief Resources Available to You

Academy Events

Hamilton's Academy of Grief and Loss offers a variety of services to educate, support and connect with those who are grieving.

View Academy Events

Community Events

Hamilton's Funeral Homes host a variety of events to serve and give back to our community.

View Community Events

General Information

Six Convenient Locations

Write Your Condolences

Your condolence message will be viewable by the general public.

Step 1 of 3

Date: 6/21/2018
*=Required fields
*Your Name:

*Message:

*Email:

Your email address will be kept private.

Condolences for the Family of
Harold Edward Rathert

View Service Details

From: Corrinne Reed

My deepest sympathies to the family in the passing of Harold. As my science supervisor in the Des Moines Public School System for many years, he was a mentor, friend, & the greatest of role models. There are few people I respected more. He will be greatly missed.

4/26/2017 12:42:27 PM

From: Don Perschau

I was saddened to hear of Harold's passing. He was such a sweet man and great boss. Harold always had the best interests of the students and his teachers in mind. My sympathy and support to his family.

4/21/2017 10:45:57 AM

From: Judy Seaver-Chamat

My deepest sympathy to you in the passing of Harold; he was such a wonderful person with smiles and kindness for all. He was respect and revered in his leadership position in the DMS public schools. Truly, he was a role model for all who were fortunate to know him. He and Nancy were the perfect couple; my sympathy to you all in the many loses over the years. "Those who live in the Lord never see each other for the last time." -Goethe Sincerely, Judy Seaver-Chamat

4/21/2017 10:03:09 AM

From: Jerry & Marilynn Wadden

Harold was a great friend with a delightful sense of humor. He and Nancy had the two best, nicest children ever. I will never forget them.

4/20/2017 10:02:34 PM

From: Bob Kujac

Harold was one of a small handful of my favorite teachers. I was the youngest of three brothers that had him for physics at East. Class of 1964. I would see Harold occasionally in the years after school and always had a fun chat enjoying his ever present smile. You did not get away with 'stuff" in his classes , but he was always ready to have fun and enjoyed kidding. I enjoyed getting to know him a little as adults and was pleased that he, Marvin Simonsen and Harlan Holm attended a couple of our later reunions at my invitation. Our generation was SO fortunate to have MEN like these as teachers. After living through the Viet Nam Era, we found that these men had seen some real horrors of war and were not just old fuddy duddies. Harlan Holm was cited in Tom Brokaw's book " The Greatest Generation" as one of 2 teachers that made an impression on his life, as he taught him in school in North Dakota before Harlan moved to Des Moines. God blessed us with men like Harold and these others. Farewell, my friend.

4/20/2017 1:11:57 PM

From: Barbara Bruni

This man was awesome. A great teacher, friend and human being. The world has lost a good man.

4/19/2017 2:36:50 PM