Herbert L. Searles, age 83 of Brodhead, died Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at Woods Crossing. He was born on January 25, 1931 in Madison, the son of Laube and Marie (Greb) Searles. He grew up in the Juda and Brodhead area and graduated from Brodhead High School. After high school Herb obtained an education in drafting. Herb married Mary Caldwell on August 8, 1951 in Brodhead. He worked at the Farm Bureau of Brodhead, then managed the RC Allen Typewriter assembly shop in Brodhead; the majority of his career was as a manager at IKI manufacturing in Stoughton, from which he retired in 1993. Retirement for Herb was the beginning of helping local businesses and many other people. He was a member of Brodhead United Methodist Church and various committees when he was younger. He enjoyed fishing, camping, walking with his wife, woodworking, traveling, and fixing things. Herb and Mary were among the first 2000 people in the state of Wisconsin to obtain EMT licenses, and practiced with Everson Ambulance Service.

He is survived by his wife, Mary; 3 children: David Searles, Jeanne (Dick) Pinnow, and Chris (Karen) Searles, all of Brodhead; 7 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law, James Caldwell; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Frank Searles; 2 sisters, Junerose Place and Mary Margaret Coplien; and a sister-in-law, June Mohns.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Monday, June 2, 2014 at the United Methodist Church of Brodhead with Rev. Hap Itson officiating. A visitation will be held Sunday from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Everson Funeral Home, Brodhead. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed in Herb's name to the Madison Chapter of MDA / ALS Association.

Herb loved to fix anything that was broken, because he did not see things for what they were, but for what they could be ...