Harlan Robert Balgeman, 92, of Austin, passed away Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, at Our House Assisted Living.
He was born Oct. 20, 1919, in Emmetsburg, Iowa, to Leo and Amanda (Bell) Balgeman. Harlan’s mother passed away shortly after he was born. He was raised by Mr. and Mrs. Rudnick in Rodman, Iowa. He was introduced to Minnesota when the Rudnicks moved for a time to Slayton. Later the family moved back to Rodman, where Harlan graduated from high school and began his lifelong vocation in farming.
On April 18, 1944, he was united in marriage to Gertrude Lydia Kuecker at her grandmother’s family farm in Whittemore, Iowa. After a brief wedding trip by train to Chicago, they returned to Cylinder, Iowa, where they began farming together. In 1959 Harlan and Gertrude bought a farm in Lyle, and lived there until 1987.
Harlan was a faithful church member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Austin and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lyle. He served many years on the Lyle Township Board and was an avid Twins baseball fan. He loved his home of 50 years in Lyle, and will be remembered by friends and family alike as a patient and kind person. Gertrude and Harlan were married for 67 years.
Survivors include two sons, Lynn (Bette) Balgeman of Manhattan, Mont., and Robert (Laurie) Balgeman of Lyle; three grandsons, Daniel (Dondi) Balgeman, Jon (Linda) Balgeman and Stephen (Bonnie) Balgeman; three granddaughters, Jane, Krista and Alexis Balgeman; five great-grandchildren; nephew, Tom Thompson of Temple, Texas; special nieces, Phyllis (Bernie) Miller of Spirit Lake, Iowa, and Shirley Reimers of Humboldt, Iowa.
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He was preceded in death by his wife, Gertrude, earlier in the day Nov. 6, 2011; his parents, Leo and Amanda; brother, Kenneth Balgeman, and a sister, Lucille Balgeman Thompson.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 10, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lyle, with Pastor Barbara Finley-Shea officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, at the Worlein Funeral Home in Austin, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. Interment will be at Enterprise Cemetery.
Memorials are preferred to the donor’s choice.
Worlein Funeral Home of Austin is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.
