Des Moines
Harland “Hike” Edward Hayek passed away April 16, 2015. Visitation will be from 1 to 3 p.m. Monday, April 20, 2015 at McLaren’s Chapel in West Des Moines with burial following at Resthaven Cemetery. A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. Monday at Windsor Heights Lutheran Church where he was a longtime member.
Harland was born May 7, 1926 in Racine, WI to Stella and Arthur Hayek. He spent most of his childhood in Wisconsin and later left high school to join the US Army Air Corps. Harland served during WWII and later toured European military bases with the Army baseball team as a catcher. After being honorably discharged, he returned home and earned his GED.
He moved to Des Moines to continue his education at Grandview College, where he met his future wife, Sylvia Jorgensen. Together they moved to Cedar Falls to obtain degrees in Elementary Education.
Upon returning to Des Moines, Harland earned his master’s in education from Drake University and married Sylvia on June, 3 1951.
He first taught at Alleman Elementary School, before serving as Principal at Clive, Crestview, and Rex Mathes Elementary Schools. He devoted 37 years to being an educator, touching the lives of many students along the way.
Harland’s career carried into a lifelong appreciation of education. He enjoyed reading newspapers and magazines and listening to the news. He loved music and always played it throughout the house. In the home where he and Sylvia raised their family, he tended garden, especially his roses.
Harland was preceded in death by his wife, Sylvia. He is survived by his four children, Lynne Shrum, Kent Hayek, Scott (Anji) Hayek, and Gail Hayek; four granddaughters, Heather (Bill McNeeley) Hayek, Sophie Hayek, Ashley (Brandon Lafferty) Hayek, and Emma Hayek; and two great-grandchildren, Charlotte and one arriving later this year.
Memorial donations in Harland’s name may be sent to the DMARC Food Pantry or Heifer International, charities he supported.
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