ROGER McGERALD "Mike" HARRIS 1909-1995

HARRIS, FOLSOM, HANGARTNER, LEVENHAGEN, REED, ROSE, BALL, SZABO, IMOEHL, DOUGHERTY, WARE, BROCKWAY, LANA, BACON, KOREY

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 5/11/2005 at 20:23:04

Roger McGerald "Mike" Harris son of Warner McLeary and Rachel M. (Folsom) Harris was born April 30,1909, on a farm in Post Township, Allamakee county, northeast of Postville, Iowa. He died Wednesday, August 23, 1995 in Veteran's Memorial Hospital at Waukon, Iowa. He had reached the age of 86 years, 3 months and 23 days.

Roger was graduated from Postville High School in 1927. On December 28, 1928, he was married to Gretchen Elizabeth Hangartner at Albert Lea, Minnesota. To this union 3 children were born, Jeannine Marie, Ronald Roger and Jennifer Ann. The family made their home on a farm four miles northeast of Postville, moving to Postville in 1959. He then worked at the Shell Station until 1972 and drove a school bus for Burr Cook until his retirement in 1979.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Gretchen, who died May 2,1972; a daughter, Jeannine Levenhagen; six brothers, Lloyd Harris and his twin brother Lester, who died as an infant, Robert Ray Harris, Cloy Harris and twin brothers who died at birth.

Surviving are his son, Ronald Harris and his wife Marcia, of Lake Mills, Wisconsin; his daughter Jennifer and her husband Larry Reed, of Postville, Iowa; 14 grandchildren: Susan Elise Levenhagen Rose, Julie Marie Levenhagen Ball, Lawerence Eugene "Bud" Levenhagen, Ann Elizabeth Levenhagen, Dawn Renee Harris Szabo, David Michael Harris, Denise Robin Harris Imoehl, Darcy Lynn Harris Dougherty, Douglas Mark Harris, Nicole Harris, Sheila Rae Reed, Lori Michelle Reed Ware, Micheal Jon Reed, Brock Adam Reed; 14 great-grandchildren: Lindsey and Brax Rose, Namoi, Nathan, and Alex Ball, Kristi, Shannon and Kari Brockway, Kelli Szabo, Dillion and Dallas Imoehl, Heath, Hayley Dougherty, and Natalie Reed; 2 step grandchildren: Jody Bacon Lana and Brent Bacon; 4 step great-grandchildren: Jordan Bacon, Kyle Korey and Jefferey Lana.

Roger was a member of the Community Presbyterian Church and had served as a Deacon and a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge in Postville.

"Mike" as he was affectionately called by family and friends, had participated in sports while in high school and continued that interest throughout his life. One of his favorite stories was about the Postville football team, during his playing days, who celebrated not only an undefeated season but a scoreless one for their opponents.

He loved farming and was one of the first to use strip-cropping in Allamakee county in 1938. "Mike" also loved to fish and to teach his grandchildren that same love for the sport.

He was a member of the Postville Farmers Coop Board of Directors and had served as president for one year, a board member of the Allamakee-Clayton Electric Coop from 1944-1959 and served as Sec'y-Treas during that period, a charter member of the Big Four Coop and its first president and a member of the Big Four Fair Board and head of the swine and sheep division for many years .

- contributed by Sharyl Ferrall