Harjehausen, Arnold E. 1920-2012

HARJEHAUSEN, ANDERSON, RICHARDSON, SCHAFER, SNOW, COURTNEY, DOBBINS, CLARK, COLLINS, GAGNON, ARNOLD

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 6/12/2014 at 10:48:39

Arnold Harjehausen 1920 - 2012
Jefferson

Arnold E. Harjehausen, Brigadier General IA-ARNG (retired), formerly of Des Moines, passed away April 3, 2012, at the Greene County Medical Center in Jefferson at the age of 92 years. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 11, 2012 at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson. Full military honors will be presented by the Iowa Army National Guard Honor Guard. Cremation will follow the service, with interment at a later date in the Jefferson Cemetery, Jefferson, IA.

Visitation begins after 11 a.m. Tuesday at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson, where the family will be present to greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Arnold was born in Sibley, Iowa on January 12, 1920. He graduated from Sibley High School, and the American Institute of Business in Des Moines, Iowa, as well as the Command and Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He served 20 years in the U.S. Army, and 20 years in the Reserve Components of the U.S. Army.

Arnold retired as a Brigadier General in the Iowa Army National Guard in 1980. He served in the European Theatre in WWII in the 125th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron. During campaigns in France, Belgium, Holland and Germany, he was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, and the Belgian Fouragere. The Chief, National Guard Bureau, awarded him its highest award, the Eagle Award. Arnold's passing is another loss of one of America's Greatest Generation, the WWII veterans. He was one of the few who started his military career as a Private and retired as a General in the Iowa National Guard. His last position with the Guard was that of United States Property and Fiscal Officer.

In 1949 Arnold was united in marriage with Marie Anderson, a union that lasted fifty-five years until her passing in 2005. Arnold is survived by four children, Edward (Sue) Harjehausen of Greensboro, GA; Kay (Guy) Richardson of Jefferson, IA; Judith Schafer of Westchester, PA; and Joetta Snow of Duluth, MN; six grandchildren: Lisa Courtney, Emily Dobbins, Lynn Clark, Lee Collins, Charles Snow, and Barb Gagnon; and twelve great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a sister, Mary (Allen) Arnold of Des Moines, IA.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Henry and Augusta Harjehausen, three brothers: Roy, Heinrich, and Don; and two sisters: Francis and Lydia.

Arnold had many interests and hobbies. He enjoyed reading, fishing, hunting, bowling, and cards. At the age of 87 he became the Greene County cribbage champion. He was a fabulous craftsman, making solid walnut and cherry furniture and stained glass for many family members. These items will be passed down to future generations.

He was also an author. He wrote two extensive books tracing the Harjehausen family history, and wrote a memoir of WWII entitled "MEMIORS OF… A SOLDIER with the 125th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron (Mecz) in World war II". Near the end of his life he indicated that he had enjoyed a great life, had a great family, and had no regrets.

Online condolences may be made to www.sliningerrossowfuneralhome.com.

Published in Des Moines Register on Apr. 8, 2012
- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/desmoinesregister/obituary.aspx?pid=156883336#sthash.0yIk6wwY.dpuf ~ The Des Moines Register Legacy, Des Moines, Iowa Sun 8 Apr 2012.