Earl Short

Earl Short, 86, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on September 11, 2024, at his home in Waukee, Iowa, surrounded by family.

Earl was born September 9, 1938, to Nancy and Imon Short. Earl was the beloved husband to Rebecca “Becky” for 53 years having married the love of his life on September 19, 1970.

Earl was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. He was a 1956 graduate of North High School. He worked at the Des Moines Register & Tribune for over 20 years, served in the Army Reserves for 6 years, and served countless home buyers and sellers as a realtor for over 20 years in the Des Moines metro area until his retirement in 2002.

During retirement, Earl immersed himself in numerous projects. He was a devout Christian and had a passion for connecting with others through his local church and many small group Bible studies in his community. Over the years, as Earl’s ability to connect with people in-person became more difficult, he dedicated countless hours to praying for others asking God to intercede on their behalf.

He loved learning about his family tree and establishing a detailed genealogical history. Through his research, Earl was able to connect with many family members and get acquainted with many more whom he had not met previously. He relished the opportunity to share earned stories about his family with others.

Earl developed a passion for streetcars through his father Imon, who was a motorman for the Des Moines Railway Company for over 38 years. Earl spent years researching and collecting information about the Des Moines streetcars. This led to special exhibition displays at the Iowa Historical Society and most recently culminating in the opening of the Waveland Trolley Loop Monument in August 2023. The monument is located at 49th & University in Des Moines.

Earl leaves behind his wife, Becky, their three children, Jay (Krista) Short, Ryan (Rachel) Short, and Lara (Pete) Walsworth. He was a cherished grandfather to 8 grandchildren, Brayden Short, Jorden Short, Jaxon Short, Alexandria Short, Kayla Short, Silas Walsworth, Seth Walsworth, and Luke Walsworth.

Earl was preceded in death by his parents, Imon and Nancy Short, his four brothers, and four sisters.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, September 21, 2024 at Maranatha Baptist Church, 877 SE 19th St in Grimes, Iowa.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Maranatha Baptist Church and Waveland Trolley Loop Foundation, P.O. Box 30112, Des Moines, Iowa 50310.

Earl will be remembered for his love for his Savior, dedication to his family, passion for family history, and streetcar history of Des Moines. He made a lasting impact on all whom he met and will be deeply missed.

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