HARRIS, Don Wm. 1924-1998

HARRIS

Posted By: Kermit Kittleson
Date: 9/18/2010 at 18:28:07

Don William Harris

NORTHWOOD — Don William Harris, 73, of Northwood, died Friday (May 15, 1998) at North Iowa Mercy Health Center West, Mason City.

Memorial services will be held 1:30 p.m. Monday, May 18, at First Lutheran Church, Northwood, with the Rev. Mark Bents officiating. Inurnment will be in the South Shell Rock Cemetery, rural Northwood, with graveside military honors by Our Buddies VFM Memorial Post No. 6779 in Northwood.

Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the Conner Colonial Chapel, 99-11th St. S., Northwood, with a 6 p.m. public Masonic services by the Northern Light Masonic Lodge of Northwood. Visitation also will be one hour prior to service time Monday at the church. According to Don’s wishes, his body was cremated.

Don William Harris was born on Aug. 11, 1924, in Greene, Iowa, the son of Charles and Lena Belle (Crouse) Harris. He was baptized and reaffirmed the faith of his baptism through confirmation in the Lutheran faith.

He attended and received his education in the Greene School System, graduating from Greene High School.

On May 18, 1943, he was inducted into the U.S. Navy at Clarksville, Iowa, serving overseas during World War II in the Pacific Theater and was honorably discharged on Nov. 25, 1945, in Minneapolis, Minn.

He was united in marriage to Mildred Butler on July 23, 1953, in Nevada.

In 1953, he started the Pee Wee & Midget baseball and in 1957, he built the softball field in Hurd Park.

After their marriage, the Harrises owned and operated the Circus Tap in Northwood for 12 years. In March 1958, he worked as a tax collector for the Department of Revenue for the state of Iowa until his retirement in 1988.

After his retirement, the Harrises owned and operated the Frame Shop in Northwood for eight years until his health failed. In March of this year, they moved to the Maple Court Apartments in Northwood.

He was a member of First Lutheran Church in Northwood; Northern Light Masonic Lodge in Northwood; and was a lifetime member of Our Buddies VFM Memorial Post No. 6779 in Northwood.

He is survived by his wife, Mildred Harris, of Northwood; several nieces and nephews; and four sisters-in-law, Geneva Harris, of Charles City; Opal Tenold, of Northwood; Arlene Tenold, of Northwood; and Evelyn Helgeson, of Northwood; as well as other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sons in infancy, four brothers and one sister.