The first time I met Noel Huss, he told me how far an IED would string my deployed husband’s intestines. Needless to say, I didn’t care for him much.
But, he was a customer of the bank where I worked, which meant I was stuck with him. And over time, he and I developed a bond. Noel would come in and gripe about politics, the weather, the Fed, interest rates, stocks, gay marriage, etc. It didn’t matter the subject, Noel had an opinion on it, and he was going to share it. So for a long time, Noel talked, while I listened.
And then came the day I told Noel I was leaving the bank. He was furious at the thought that it might be due to the bank firing me or mistreating me in anyway and threatened to close every single account he had there. I assured him I was leaving of my own accord and had accepted a position at a rival bank. I even told him where I was going, which might have been a bit against the rules.
I hadn’t made it out of my first week of training at the new bank before Noel showed up looking for me. And our tradition of chit-chatting and talking continued. The new bank was verrrrrrrrrry slow and I welcomed the chance to sit and visit with Noel. We would talk for hours.
He would tell me about his fears for his son serving in the military and his wish for a closer relationship with his daughter. He’d tell me about his grandbabies. He talked to me about his divorce and his new wife. We’d talk about the weather. We’d talk politics until the cows come home. He’d tell me off-colored jokes and I’d pretend to be appalled. We had developed this great dynamic, Noel and I. I’m not sure what I was to him, but he was my buddy.
But then, a new job opportunity came up, that would take me away from the banking industry and away from Noel. He came in and I laid everything out for him. Why I was leaving. Where I was going. I ended our talk with a big hug. This was our parting of ways.
Until a month later, when Noel showed up at my office. Come to find out, Noel had some business that would need attending to at my new place of employment about once every month or so. Which meant we could continue our talks of politics, riddles, jokes, and even a bit of history. I’d tell him about Dubya and Moo (once she made her arrival), we’d talk about my husband and our concerns that he was going to be redeployed while I was home with a bitty baby. We’d talk until I had to get back to work. I had actual responsibilities at this new job and that cut down on our chat time significantly.
Then, Noel stopped coming in to see me. His business starting being conducted by mail. And I got worried. So I mailed him a letter or two. I hadn’t heard from him, so I began checking the obituaries religiously.
Then out of the blue, I saw him walking up the sidewalk into my office. He was gaunt, almost a shell of the man I knew. He had been sick and had to receive treatment out of state, but he wanted me to know that he had received my letter. I might have scolded him a bit, especially when it came to the part where I was telling him that I didn’t even know if he was alive, and that by god, I needed to know these things.
So Noel was back. I’d see him about once a month at my office and I ran in to him in the local grocery store. I even had a chance to introduce him to my kids. He was on the mend, but still had a round of chemo to go through.
Our paths didn’t cross in November, but when he stopped by my office in December I had a little surprise waiting for him in the form of a hat. I had started worrying about the chemo making his hair fall out and I couldn’t remember if he had a nice stocking cap or not. So I knit him one. It was nothing fancy, just a knitted WWII style patrol cap.
I couldn’t resist teasing Noel a bit and when I inquired how his chemo was going, I asked if his hair had started falling out yet. Noel seemed taken aback by my bluntness and didn’t know quite what to say (a first!), so I whipped the hat from its hiding spot and told him it was for him.
It took Noel a minute to respond and when he did respond, his voice was a bit shaky. To be honest, I don’t remember who reached out first, but the next thing I knew we had a death grip on each other’s hands and I was telling him that it wasn’t a big deal; I just didn’t want his big old head to get cold. He put it on and I smoothed out the wrinkles and to be quite honest, Noel looked rather dashing in it. He walked out of here with a bit o’ pep in his step.
And then, a few weeks ago, I realized I hadn’t heard from Noel in a while. I jotted him a quick note with a political joke I had heard and told him I hoped all was well. He crossed my mind today and just like I had so many months ago, during his first go-round of being MIA, I started doing a bit of research.
This is what I found:
Noel Huss
Noel E. Huss, 74 of Urbandale, passed away February 2, 2012 at Kavanagh House on 56th surrounded by his loving family and friends. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Iles Funeral Homes – Westover Chapel. Burial will follow at Highland Memory Gardens. Visitation will be Monday from 6 – 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Noel was born in Des Moines, son of Dewey and Ellen (Davis) Huss. He married Barbara Huss in 1963 and had three children. They divorced after 25 years of marriage. He met Zelda Caruthers, and they married in 1992.
He graduated from North High School in 1956, received his Bachelor’s degree from Drake in 1960 and achieved his Master’s at Truman State University in 1970. He taught math at Dallas Center and SE Polk Schools. He also taught as a substitute for Des Moines Christian School.
He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Des Moines. He spent time in his later years at his wife’s church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Urbandale.
Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Zelda; sister, Marilyn Huss; children, David (Kristin) Huss, Mark (Deer Eyes) Huss, and Deborah (Kelly) Murphy; stepdaughter, Carolyn Caruthers; stepdaughter-in-law, Jody Caruthers; grandchildren, Hunter Huss, Jackson Murphy, Alexandra Huss, Maxwell Murphy, Madison Huss, Mason Huss and Bear Huss; and stepgrandson, Dan Caruthers. He was preceded in death by his parents and stepson, David Caruthers.
Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 1001 Pleasant St, Des Moines, IA 50309.
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/desmoinesregister/obituary.aspx?n=noel-e-huss&pid=155753496&fhid=13075
So this is my tribute to Noel. He was outspoken. He could get himself good and worked up over any little thing. He loved talking politics. He hated politicians. He was ornery. He was my friend. And I will miss him dearly.
