Harold Joy Popenhagen, Wadena, died on Tuesday, October 9, 2018 at Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital, West Union. He was born on May 7, 1924 near Wadena in lllyria Township, Fayette County, the oldest child of Joy and Fern (Ward) Popenhagen. His family farmed southeast of Wadena in Fairfield Township, where he attended country school. During high school he walked or rode his pony from home to Wadena. The family later farmed near Lima and at that time Harold entered the army, serving in Virginia until medically discharged.
Harold was united in marriage to Leone Corrine Anfinson of Lima, on June 11, 1950 at the Bethel Presbyterian Church, West Union. They farmed east of Wadena on his grandparent’s farm at Steamboat Mound. Harold also hauled canned milk for the Wadena Creamery.
In 1957 Harold and family moved to Wadena where he owned and operated Harold’s DX in the late 60’s and early 70’s. Later he worked as a carpenter and also as a driver for Northeast Iowa Community Action. Harold also was a bus driver for the Valley Community School District, served as a member of the Wadena-Illyria Fire Department, and was an active member of the Wadena Presbyterian Church. Harold enjoyed singing and playing guitar, camping, hunting, snowmobiling, relating stories of his youth, and working on his tractors.
Harold is survived by his wife of sixty-eight years, Leone, and the following children and grandchildren: Larry and his son, Ean, of Wadena and Larry’s step-daughter Devin (Raul) Herrera and their daughter Delanie of Royal Palm Beach, Florida; Ron (Ludvika), Aix, France and children Darius and Renata of Los Angeles, California; Charla (Don) Mailey and children Sari and Rhiannon of Minnetrista, Minnesota.
Also surviving are Harold’s sisters; Shirley Kleinlein of Arlington and Dora (Jerry) Bartels of Oelwein as well as brother-in-law Darrel (Bonnie) Anfinson of Cedar Rapids and sisters-in-law Kolleen Asaad of Danville, Illinois and Francis Popenhagen of Wadena, Iowa; and brother-in-law Verle Pugh of Strawberry Point.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents, Joy and Fern; his brother, Russ; his sister, Mabel Bockholt; sister-in-law, Darlene Pugh; brothers-in-law, Duane Bockholt and Norman Kleinlein; maternal grandparents, John and Moldonata (Wooldridge) Ward; and his parents-in-law, Leonard and Catharine (Bishop) Anfinson.
Visitation will be held from 3:30 pm to 7:00 pm on Friday, October 19, 2018 at Burnham-Wood-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, West Union, Iowa. There will also be a one hour visitation before services at the church on Saturday.
Funeral Service will be at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 20, 2018 at Wadena Community Church in Wadena, Iowa with Pastor Rusty Phillips as the officiant.
Burial will follow at the Wadena Cemetery, Wadena, Iowa.
Burnham-Wood-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of West Union, Iowa is helping the family with arrangements.