Joe Ackerman, 86, of Northwood, Iowa, died Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008, at Mercy Medical Center-North Iowa, in Mason City.

Memorial services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Conner Colonial Chapel, 1008 First Ave. South, Northwood, with the Rev. Tom Martin of Bethany Lutheran Church in Kensett officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to service time on Wednesday at the chapel. According to his wishes cremation will take place with inurnment to be held at a later date.

Joe Ackerman was born on July 17, 1921, in Butler Township, the son of Fred and Grace (Freeze) Ackerman. He attended and received his education in the Alison-Bristol Community School. He was united in marriage to Mabel May McGee on Dec. 8, 1951, in Pine City. She preceded him in death on Feb. 19, 2007. Joe worked as an ironworker for various companies in the North Iowa area and retired in 1986 from Mason City Iron & Metal Company. After his retirement he collected and sold scrap aluminum and steel.

Joe enjoyed watching birds, building bird houses, listening to his son Jim&8217;s clocks, watching the Antique Road Shows, listening to game shows, especially &8220;The Price Is Right&8221;, collecting caps, and pocket knives, his lilac bushes and strawberry patch, and in his early years he enjoyed flying Bi Planes.

Joe had resided east of Northwood all of this life being taken care of by his son Jim and Ralene.

Left to cherish his memory are his children; Bea Lyons of Jacksonville Beach, Fla., Robert (Kay) Ackerman of Mason City, and Jim Ackerman and special friend, Ralene Rippentrop of Northwood, five grandchildren; Tom (Lynn) Lyons of Columbia, S.C., Barbara Reeder of Jacksonville Beach, Fla., Lori (Mark) Johnson of Nora Springs, Shannon Ackerman of Albert Lea, and Mike Legler of Mason City, 10 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandson. Many extended family members and friends also survive him.

His parents, wife, Mabel, son, Jerry who died on Dec. 29, 2003, a brother, Henry &8220;Hank&8221; Ackerman, and two sisters, Anna Mikkelson and Etta Swartwood, preceded him in death.