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Photo of Harold H. Naefke

Harold H. Naefke

3/5/1927 - 6/5/2015


Obituary


Harold Naefke, 88, of Clarion passed away Friday, June 5, 2015 at Hope Harbor - Buena Vista Medical Center in Storm Lake. Funeral services for Harold Naefke will be held on Thursday, June 11, 2015 at 2:00 PM at the Kanawha Lutheran Church, 124 West Fourth Street in Kanawha with Pastors Geoffrey and Char White officiating.  Burial will be held in Norway Township Cemetery in rural Kanawha. Visitation for Harold Naefke will be held from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Wednesday, June 10, 2015 at Ewing Funeral Home, 1801 Central Avenue East in Clarion, and will continue one hour before services at the church on Thursday.

Harold Herbert Naefke was born March 5, 1927 in Britt, to August and Mayne (Greenfield) Naefke.  The family lived in Britt until moving to Norway Township when Harold was 7.

Harold attended Clarion High School and started farming with his father before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1951.

Harold was united in marriage to Audrey Amosson at Camp Atterbury, Indiana on March 30, 1951.  Following Harold’s discharge from the service in 1953, the couple made their home north west of Clarion where Harold continued to make farming his life’s work.  He was named Outstanding Young Farmer for Wright County in 1961.  In 1999, Harold and Audrey moved to Clarion.

Harold was baptized at First Lutheran Church in Britt, and was a longtime member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, where he served in several offices including president, vice president, secretary, and trustee.  He also taught Sunday school for 25 years. After the closing of St. John’s, Harold became a member of Kanawha Lutheran.

Harold served on the Clarion School Board, R.E.C. Board and Holmes Co-op Elevator Board.

Harold enjoyed golfing and fishing, especially several trips to Canada.  He and his family enjoyed their annual summer vacations together.  For the past 20 years, Harold and Audrey have wintered in Mesa, Arizona.

Harold will be remembered for his kindness and generosity; he never met a stranger.  He was always willing to lend a helping hand to his neighbors and others in need.  All kids and dogs loved him.

Harold is survived by his wife Audrey of Clarion; daughters Debby (Tom) Winch of Marshalltown, Iowa, Kathy Naefke of St. Paul, Minnesota, and Cindy Khan of Johnston, Iowa; grandchildren Jen (Mac) McMullen Jump and daughters Janae and Evelyn of Arlington, Virginia, Patrick (Sandy) McMullen and children Benjamin and Hannah of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Hannah Naefke of Los Angeles, California, and Kaitlin (Jesse) Scott of Center Point, Iowa; along with numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

Harold was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Marjorie Yanney and his brother Robert Naefke.