McIntyres to lead Fun Days parade

 

 

CUTLINE: The 2013 Hawkeye Fun Dayd parade marshals are Wally and LaFonda McIntyre. The couple are pictured with their 1929 Model A. (Janell Bradley photo)

 

McIntyres to lead Fun Days parade

 

Janell Bradley
Contributing Writer

 

For many years, their antique Model A cars have had a presence in the Hawkeye Fun Days parade. This year, Wally and LaFonda McIntyre will join the Miss Hawkeye candidates escorted in an antique Model A after being named the parade marshals to lead the 2013 event.

Both Wally and LaFonda are familiar figures to the town's residents, having lived in the community for about 25 years. Prior to that, the couple farmed north of Hawkeye.

LaFonda grew up just west of Elgin and was working in a Postville cafe when she met her future husband.

As Wally remembers, he was working on the construction of a new school in Postville when he stopped in at the cafe for an occasional meal. LaFonda's father was also working at the same site as a bricklayer.

The rest, as they say, is history.

This August, the McIntyres will have been married 58 years. Their children include daughters Lynn (Don Jr.) Lee, Lori (Brad) Halverson and Kenn (deceased.) Their family also includes four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Over the years, Wally served on the co-op board, and he was on the Community Hall board when the old structure burned down. The McIntyres are also members of Hawkeye Methodist Church.

In their retirement, the couple stay active. LaFonda enjoys getting together weekly with her quilting group, and she volunteers at the Hurd Museum. She's president of the Hawkeye Historical Club and serves on the cemetery board. She also enjoys looking for unusual items at area auctions.

Wally, who keeps busy as an independent semi driver, enjoys a hobby of restoring antique cars. Last month, the McIntyres trailered their 1930 Model A to the Southeast coast of the U.S., where they took part in an antique car tour that began in Charlottesville, Va. Traveling through North Carolina, the group of antique car enthusiasts paused for an official photo at Biltmore Estate in Asheville, N.C. The tour concluded in Gatlinburg, Tenn. 

"There was only one day we saw the sun shine," said LaFonda. Even so, they enjoyed the trip, arriving back home on May 12.

While the McIntyres are humble about having been chosen to lead the Hawkeye Fun Days parade on Saturday, June 15, they hope folks will find a way to enjoy the annual event this year, whether it's attending the coronation of Miss Hawkeye on Friday evening, entering a tractor in the tractor ride Saturday morning, or bringing the family to the parade and games in the park. There will be a dance in the Community Hall to cap off the night. 

 

Rate this article: 
No votes yet
Comment Here