Engebretson, Harris Hartwick (1923-2015)
ENGEBRETSON, PETERSON, PALMER, ARNEVIK, NAGLE, REBELEIN, HEMPHILL, BLISS
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 8/28/2015 at 13:25:16
Harris Hartwick Engebretson
(February 4, 1923 - August 1, 2015)Harris H. Engebretson, 92. of Thompson, Iowa, died on Saturday, August 1, 2015, at the Muse Norris Hospice Unit in Mason City, Iowa.
Harris Hartwick Engebretson was born on February 4, 1923, to Hans and Ella (Peterson) Engebretson on the family farm less than a mile West of Vinje, Iowa. Baptized and confirmed at Bethel Lutheran Church in Vinje, he had a strong faith in Jesus Christ and devoted much of his life to and caring for his church. Indeed, he served as Sunday School Superintendent for sixty years and also on the cemetery board for many years.
Harris attended Logan No. 2 country school North of Vinje and graduated from Lake Mills High School in 1941. In 1942, he enrolled in a trade school in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to study airplane sub-assembly. After finishing this course in 1943, he returned to Vinje to farm. Having a cream route, he hauled cream for the Vinje Creamery as well.
On July 4, 1948, Harris married Gloria Palmer at the Asbury Methodist Church in Lake Mills, Iowa. For the first ten years of their marriage, they lived on and helped farm the family home place. In 1959, they moved to rural Thompson where they made their home until the time of his passing.
Harris treasured the members of his family, and he enjoyed spending time with them. He, also, had several interests including airplanes, pets, and current events. After starting instruction in 1945, he earned a pilot’s license and bought his own plane. He loved his pets. He liked to read newspapers to keep up with current events and magazines to follow his other interests. Moreover, he made daily trips to Bud’s Café in Bricelyn where he had many special friends. His best buddy, however, was his dog, Toby, who enjoyed the occasional cheeseburger which Harris brought home to him from Bud’s.
Besides grain farming and milking cows, he started working at Winnebago Industries in Forest City in 1969. He worked there until 1973. In 1974, he started working part-time at Deluxe (Fleetguard) in Lake Mills as a security guard, a position which he held for over twenty years.
Harris is survived by his daughter, Holly (Brad) Arnevik, of Thompson, Iowa, and his son, Fred (Lanice) Engebretson, of Scarville, Iowa; five grandchildren: Madeline Arnevik, and her friend, Jorge Pau, of Mason City, Iowa, Lexie Arnevik, of Thompson, Iowa, Ann (Brendan) Nagle, of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, Ryan Engebretson, and his friend, Stephanie Adix, of Scarville, Iowa, and Christian (Ashley) Engebretson, of Nicollet, Minnesota; one great-grandson, Wyatt Engebretson; his sister Elaine (Marvin) Rebelein, of Northwood, Iowa; and his sisters-in-law, Sandra Hemphill, of Winterhaven, Florida, and Carole (David) Bliss, of Independence, Missouri, as well as by many nieces and nephews.
Harris was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria, in 1984; his parents; his brothers, Clarence, Gayler, Harold, and Merel; his sister, Elsie; his sisters-in-law, Gladys, Bernice, and Darlyne; his brother-in-law, Hershel; his nephew, Rodney; his nieces, Denise, Ellen, and Marlene, in infancy.
Funeral service will be held at 10:30 AM, Friday, August 7, 2015, at Bethel Lutheran Church, Vinje, Iowa, with Pastor Spering Scott officiating. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 PM, Thursday, at the Mittelstadt Funeral Home, 902 East Main Street, Lake Mills, Iowa 50450, and again one hour before services at the church on Friday. Burial will follow at Bethel Cemetery, Vinje, Iowa.
Blessed be his memory.
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