HIRSCH, Harlan H. (1931-2021)

HIRSCH

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/4/2022 at 15:51:05

Harlan Herman Hirsch
(May 18, 1931 - June 19, 2021)

Harlan Herman Hirsch, 90, passed away Saturday morning, June 19, 2021 at his home in rural Indianola. He was born on May 18, 1931 to Carl and Carolyn Hirsch in an old house on the family farm. Although times were tough during his childhood years, Harlan had many fond memories of his family and the farm, which he chronicled in his book “The First Quarter” published in 2011.
Harlan attended Whitman School, a one room country school house, for his early education, then attended Indianola Community Schools for junior and senior school years. He was a very proud member of the class of 1948 and had lifelong friends from this class. After high school, he attended Simpson College for one year, majoring in poker and black jack. He also met a beautiful co-ed at Simpson, Cris Criswell and they began to date.
Feeling a little restless, Harlan decided he wanted to see a little more of the world. Although he could not swim, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served as a yeoman on the transport ship, the USS Deuel, during the Korean War. Harlan got to see the world sailing to different ports in Europe, the Mediterranean, the Sea of Japan and Cuba. He and Cris had maintained their romance during this time and on February 20, 1953, were married in Norfolk, Virginia while he was on shore leave.
After being discharged from the Navy, Harlan returned to Iowa and joined his father in farming. They specialized in the raising, exhibiting and marketing of Purebred Black Poland China hogs. In just a few years, Hirsch’s Poland’s reached new heights and levels of achievement in the Poland China industry. Harlan was one of the first people in Iowa to raise Charolais Cattle and was very proud of the cow/calf operation that he ran for many years. He and Cris also raised four children and kept very busy with their clubs and activities.
Harlan and Cris took many trips around the country and especially enjoyed their times in Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nevada. In 2004, they took a trip with their daughters to Italy and Monte Carlo, a place Harlan had visited over 50 years before while in the Navy. Harlan was a lifelong St. Louis Cardinal baseball fan and a devoted Republican. He enjoyed many friendly, but competitive games of poker with his friends throughout his life. He and Cris also enjoyed the many reunions of the class of 1948.
Harlan is survived by his children, Renee, Pamela and David (Gabriella) Hirsch; grandchildren, Natividad (Dane) Keim and Carl (Taylor Prone) Hirsch; sister, Marjorie Rodgers and brother-in-law James Criswell. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Carolyn Hirsch, his wife, Edith (Cris) Hirsch and his beloved daughter, Sue Hirsch.
There will be a private family service at the graveside in the Indianola I.O.O.F. Memorial Gardens Cemetery and a Celebration of Life service to be held in the fall. Memorials can be sent to Helping Hand or the Temple of God Church in Indianola. This memorial is provided by Overton Funeral Home, 501 West Ashland Ave., Indianola, Iowa, http://www.overtonfuneral.com/