Obituary Record

Richard Marin Harold
Died on 2/2/2007

None

Enterprise 4 Feb 2007

(Photo) (Veteran)

R. Marvin Harold, 59, of Herman, died Friday, Feb. 2, 2007, at Memorial Community Hospital in Blair.

Funeral services were Wednesday, Feb. 7, at the Legion Hall in Herman. Interment, with military honors provided by the Jackson Peck American Legion Post No. 274, was in the Tekamah Cemetery.

Richard Marvin Harold was born Aug. 18, 1947, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Richard Dean and Georgia (Reafling) Harold. His family lived in several small towns in Iowa and Nebraska before settling in Tekamah, where he graduated from high school in 1965.

He joined the Air Force in 1965, ad was stationed at the Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand for many years. He was a refrigeration and air conditioning tech, rising to the rank of staff sergeant. He learned to both read and write the Thai language. He was heavily involved in martial arts while overseas, earning a second degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. He remained in Thailand after his honorable discharge in 19783, and returned to the states in 1975.

He attended Metropolitan Technical Community College, where he received an associate’s degree in air conditioning, heating and refrigeration in 1977, and an associate’s degree in civil engineering technology in 1981.

In 1977, he began his employment with the Burt Washington Drainage District as a heavy equipment operator. He took over as superintendent in 1986 and remained with the Drainage District for 30 years. He worked closely with the board of directors, farmers, landowners and a dedicated crew to maintain water flow from the hills east to the Missouri River between Decatur and Blair.

He met his wife, Teri Park, in 1987 in Omaha, where they had a shared interest in biking. They married in 1993, raising her son, John Molloy. They lived in Herman for 14 years, where Mr. Harold lovingly tended his beautiful garden, full of hostas, iris, lilies and clematis, and slowly worked on repairing and maintaining the historical accuracy of the house he loved. He loved country life and, until he moved to Herman had never lived in town.

He was active in the community, serving as the chairman of the Herman Village Board for more than five years, and on the Logan East Rural Water System Advisory Board. He loved reading, music, history gardening, antiques, bicycling, camping, canoeing, dancing, firearms, knives, movies, and the outdoors.

He was a member of Mensa and knew more about the world and everything in it than most anyone. He loved to travel, and he and his wife went on a vacation adventure every year, returning many times to favorite spots in Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota and Colorado. He loved the history of the West and spent many hours studying the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

He loved his labs, Lucy and Mattie. Lucy went to work with him every day for 13 years, running, chasing rabbits and being “on the job” with him. She died in September. Mr. Harold battled cancer in 2001 and again in 2006. Lucy’s ashes were buried alongside his in the Tekamah Cemetery.

He is survived by his wife, Teresa June “Teri” Harold of Herman; stepson, John J. Molloy III of Omaha; parents, Georgia and Richard “Dick” Harold of Fremont; sisters and brothers-in-law, Ann and Richard Woodcock of Arlington, Merna and Steve Bowman of Riverside, Iowa, Valerie and James Kjeldgaard of Fremont; brothers and sisters-in-law, Roger and Jackie Harold of Hartington, Gary and Betty Harold of Wynot, Ron Harold of Craig; mother-and father-in-law, Max and Ardyth Park of Bedford, Iowa; sister-and brother-in-law, Mike and Suzie Turner of Shawnee, Kan.; brother-and sister-in-law, Jim and Deb Park of Bedford; aunts and uncles, Geneva and Stanley Bomer, Daisy Reafleng, Bill and Helen Reafleng, all of Pacific Junction, Iowa; many cousins, nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and-nephews. He also had a daughter and son-in-law, Desere and Charles Howard; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren, all of Stuart, Fla.; and a son, John, whereabouts unknown.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents and an uncle, Bob Reafleng.

Memorials are suggested to the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging, c/o Senior Help Division, 4223 Center St., Omaha, NE 68105.

Omaha World Herald 6 Feb 2007

(Veteran)

Harold – R. “Marvin, age 59, of Herman, NE.

MEMORIAL SERVICE Wed 10:30 am, at the American Legion Hall, Herman, NE. Military Honors by Jackson Peck American Legion Post No. 274. A Memorial Gathering will be held Tues. 1-8pm, with family receiving friends from 6-8pm at the Tekamah Funeral Home. Burial Tekamah Cemetery, Tekamah, NE.

Pelan Funeral Services Tekamah, Tekamah, NE 402-374-1551

www.pelanfunralservices.com

~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~

Printed in the Washington County Enterprise on 2/4/2007


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