Harold A. Freese

Harold A. Freese

1943 – 2024

HOLSTEIN - Harold A. Freese, 81, of Holstein, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center of Omaha, Nebraska. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church of Holstein with the Pastor Del Olivier officiating.  A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service starting at 9:30 a.m. at the church. A masonic service will be held at 9 a.m. at the church by the Alpine Lodge #471 of Holstein. Burial will be at the Holstein Cemetery of Holstein with military rites conducted by the American Legion Dessel-Schmidt Post #225 of Holstein. The Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home of Holstein is in charge of the arrangements.

Harold Alan Freese, eldest son of Melvin William and Norma Marie (Beyer) Freese, was born on April 20, 1943 at the Holstein Hospital. He grew up with two younger brothers, Wayne and Paul. They lived on a farm south of Holstein on the Battle Creek Road.

Harold graduated from Holstein High School in 1961, participating in football, basketball, and track. He kept busy on the farm with 4-H calves (“Battle Badgers” proud!) and helping his dad with walking beans, bailing hay, and fixing fences when the creek got too high.

A graduate of the University of South Dakota School of Business and the U.S. Army ROTC program in 1965, he entered the Army in January 1966 at Ft. Benjamin Harrison Finance School in Indianapolis, Indiana as a 2nd Lieutenant. In April 1966, he was flown to Bangkok, Thailand and then to north to Korat, Thailand, where he served as an officer in dispensing monies to the headquarters in Vietnam. After a year, he returned stateside as a 1st Lieutenant and taught the new inductees at the Ft. Benjamin Finance School. After his two-year active duty was completed, he was assigned to a reserve transportation unit in Lafayette, Indiana for four years. He was honorably discharged in December 1972.

He was employed as a purchasing agent and customer service representative at R.R. Donnelly & Sons Lakeside Press in Crawfordsville, Indiana and worked there for five years. The plant employed 2,400 people and printed the World Book Encyclopedias, Reader’s Digest Condensed Books, the Jerusalem Bibles, and many other religious books and literature.

While working at the Lakeside Press, Harold also began his M.B.A. at Indiana State University; when about two-thirds finished, he decided he wanted to return to Iowa and begin farming, which he did.  

Harold and Jeanne dated for six years and married at St. Paul Lutheran Church on July 20, 1968. Their first anniversary was celebrated watching the U.S. astronauts land and walk on the moon (on TV). Throughout the years back in Iowa, they enjoyed following the Pirates play football. Harold was on the chain gang for many years with Joe Clausen and they were Pirates fans in all sports. His children, Christine and John, both graduated from Galva-Holstein, so mom and dad were always going somewhere as loyal followers.

The Freeses lived out in the country north of Holstein, where Jeanne lived as a child. Hog and cattle chores needed to be done first, and then field work was addressed. Harold kept busy with community activities, including six years as a director on the Holstein Co-Op Elevator Board, three years as a deacon with Eldridge Drury on the St. Paul Lutheran Church Council, a 50-plus year member and former commander of the American Legion Dessel-Schmidt Post, a 50-year member and former master of the American Masonic Lodge, a call committee member that called Pastor Marilyn Hanson to Holstein, and he kept the farm business progressing forward.

In the last few years, he was more often a director of operations and watched Andy Cronin and others do the planting, cultivating, and harvesting. We were always proud of what they did. Harold was a farmer to the end. 

Harold is survived by his wife of 56 years, Jeanne; his daughter, Christine; his son, John (Elizabeth); brothers Wayne (Karen) and Paul (Deby); nephews Dan (Amber), Marc (Dawn), Brian, and Kevin. He is also survived by grandchildren Erin and Matthew, and great-grandchildren Elayna, Thaddeus, and Everette. Also surviving Harold are his cousins Karen Hammer (Dean), Carol Cahill, Bob Freese (Virginia), Vance Hjelm, Gene Hjelm (Shelly), Jon Hjelm, Owen Freese (Marcia), Mavis Freese and Connie Ojier and Jim (Jeanette) Beyer.

Harold was preceded in death by his parents and several aunts and uncles.

Online condolences can be made at nicklasdjensenfh.com.

Services: Saturday, Oct. 5 at 10:30 a.m., St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, Holstein

Burial: Holstein Cemetery

Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home • Holstein • 712-368-4332