Bigler, Harry Leland 1937 - 2021
BIGLER, ORTON, HOLTAN, PETERSON, SCHULTZ, JANACHEK, RIDER, SAWYER, NEHS, BREMNER, HILSCHER
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 11/5/2021 at 11:22:30
Harry Bigler, age 83, of rural Decorah died Thursday, October 21,2021 at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester, MN.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, November 6, 2021, at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 1638 Big Canoe Rd. rural Decorah, IA, with Rev. Nancy Solomonson presiding. Burial will be in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service, on Saturday, November 6, 2021, at the church. The Schluter-Balik Funeral Home will be handling the arrangements.
Harry Leland Bigler was born on December 6, 1937 in Decorah, Iowa. Harry was the second son of Harvey and Violet Bigler. He was baptized on February 13, 1938 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Locust, Iowa. He was confirmed in 1951 and became a member of his church. He remained a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, until his death on October 21, 2021.
When Harry was almost two his sister, Beverly, was born. Four times more he watched his parents bring home girls. He attended Pleasant Number Five country school, about a mile from home, thru the eighth grade. At 18, he joined the army and after basic training, he spent his service years in South Korea. He was there shortly after the Korean War. He helped rebuild the infrastructure so badly damaged by the war with the North.
Harry returned to Iowa and helped his dad farm. For several years, he rented his own farm near Hesper. When his dad passed away, he purchased the family farm and began a long career and built a successful farming operation. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, his various pets, religious programs and Western channels on television, but most of all he loved farming. As Harry aged, he rented out most of his land, but always kept a portion to farm. In fact, in the days before his hospitalization, he was harvesting his corn crop and feeding his cattle.
Harry was a member of the Mabel Legion and recently was given a red, white, and blue Quilt of Valor. He was very pleased and proud of receiving the surprise quilt.
He is survived by his sisters, Beverly Orton, Sharon Holtan, Dianne (Bob) Peterson, Sandra (Mike) Schultz, and Linda (Steve) Janechek. He is also survived by his nephews, Michael Orton, Tim (Sarah) Holtan, Mike (Linda) Rider, John (Amelia) Rider, David (Renee) Rider, Nate (Jen) Rider, Andrew (Jessica) Schultz, and Ben (Staci) Schultz. His surviving nieces are Reba Orton, Melisa Sawyer, Liz Holtan, Jenny (John) Nehs, Diane (Ron) Bremner, and Shannon (Jerome) Hilscher. He is also survived by many great nieces and nephews, and their families, and many good friends and neighbors.
Harry was preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Violet Bigler and his brother Ernest Bigler.
Source: Schluter-Balik Funeral Home database
St. John's Lutheran Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
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