Elbert “Sarge” Sargent, Lt. Commander, U.S.N. (Ret), passed away Thursday, January 13, 2022 at the privileged age of 93. A private graveside gathering will be held in June when his ashes and the ashes of “Petey”, his wife of 72 years, can be placed together in Graceland Park Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service of Sergeant Bluff.

Sarge was born on September 14, 1928 to Edwin and Alice (Baker) Sargent of rural Sergeant Bluff. He was a 1946 graduate of Sergeant Bluff High School. He entered the Navy in 1948, and came home after basic training to marry his high school sweetheart Dorothy “Petey” Peterson. Sarge advanced through the enlisted ranks, and was promoted to Officer Status in 1960. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander in 1969. His tours of duty included the sub-tender USS Sperry, air craft carriers USS Hornet and USS Ticonderoga, the Nuclear Weapons Training Center, San Diego, California, and Clarksville Base, Tenn.

After retiring from the Navy he and Petey returned to Sergeant Bluff where he started Sargent Electric and enjoyed being a general “fix-it” man around town for many years. He was a founding member of the Sergeant Bluff Historical Society Museum, served on the town council, helped start the very first Sgt. Bluff Senior Center, and was a member of the American Legion Post 662. Elbert and his wife were awarded several volunteer awards from both the State of Iowa and the City of Sergeant Bluff.

The couple had two children, Patrick Sargent of Salix, Iowa and Roxann Sargent-Beacom and her partner Lloyd Crain, also of Salix. A special part of their life was a nephew, Mike DeGeest and wife Kelly, and their children, Tara, Jerry, and Rocky.

Our heartfelt thanks to the wonderful Burgess Hospital Home Health and Hospice employees. Any memorial donation can be directed to them at: 1600 Diamond Street Onawa, Iowa   51040.