HAROLD OTTO GARSKE

Harold O. Garske, 90, former businessman and farmer of the Lake Region area, passed away on Monday, May 20,, 2013 at the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd, New Rockford with his family at his side. Mass of the Resurrection for Harold will be held on Saturday, May 25, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake. Fr. C.F. Wilhelm will celebrate the Mass and burial will be in St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery. Military Honors will be accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Friday from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 5:30 p.m. The Rosary will be led by the Knights of Columbus. Music will be provided by Tom Burckhard and JoDee Lagein. Urn Bearers will be grandsons, Robert Garske Jr. and Garry Garske. Harold Otto, son of Otto and Amelia (Zettler) Garske, was born on May 15, 1923 at the family home, rural Garske, ND. He attended the “Paulson School” and later the “Regan School” country schools and the Webster Public School. At a young age he began working in the Potato Warehouse in Webster and also was a farm laborer to area farmers. Harold was united in marriage to Hazel Pearl Anderson in 1942. They established their home in the Webster area. Harold was called into service for his country in 1945 and served in the United States Army until World War II ended and he was honorably discharged. Harold began work for Paul Swanson at Swanson Implement, then for P.E. Killalea after he purchased the business and then Harold went into partnership with Bill Frith and Gordon Lunde and established “Dakota Implement, Inc.” He had a passion for the implement business and farming and made this his life’s work through the years, retiring in 1984. For several years, Harold and Hazel wintered in Apache Wells, Arizona but made Devils Lake their permanent home. Hazel died on October 16, 1991. Harold was blessed to find another companion to share his life and was united in marriage to Lorraine Carlson in 1994 in Arizona. Harold was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and life member of the Knights of Columbus and the Devils Lake Elks Lodge and member of the American Legion. Harold was always a hands-on businessman and so were his hobbies of woodworking, gardening and farming. He loved family gatherings with children and grandchildren at Six-Mile Bay where boating, fishing, water skiing and picnicking were times of great joy for Harold. Harold is survived by his wife, Lorraine of Seattle, WA; children and their spouses, Gary and Claire Garske, Bob and Martha Garske, Lynn and Loie Garske and Bette and Mike Schell all of Devils Lake; nine grandchildren, Casey (Jennifer) Garske, Kelly (Eric) Moore, Andy Garske; Robert Harold (Annette) Garske Jr., Garry (Serra) Garske; Chris (Michelle) Garske, Jill (Mitch Stafford) Garske, Tricia (Daniel) Mosser and Jeff Garske: sixteen great grandchildren; step children, Daniel (Evie) Keller, Bonnie (Fred) Sayles, Patrica (Robin) Haas and Linda (Steve) Laws; eight step grandchildren, Carolyn (Alex) Bogemans, Scott (Kea) Keller, Leanne Keller, Tricia (Jayson) Sayles, Jeffrey Backus, Debbie (Jade) Farrar, Kate (Eric) Mittelstadt and Stephanie (Pat) Broadgate and four great grandchildren; brother, Lawrence Garske of Reseda, CA; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Hazel; son, Michael in infancy; brothers, Francis Garske and Elmer Garske; sister, Dorothy Rutten and step grandson, Christopher Sayles.