Harold Ballhagen, 1932-2020

Published 1:00 am Tuesday, February 11, 2020

Funeral services for Harold R. Ballhagen will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea in with Chaplain Don Malinsky officiating. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Lakewood Cemetery.

Harold Ballhagen

Harold passed away Monday, Feb. 10, 2020, at Our House Memory Care in Austin. He was 87 years old.

Harold R. Ballhagen was born July 26, 1932, in Rudd, Iowa, to parents Raymond and Mary (Jacobs) Ballhagen. He grew up in Rudd and graduated from Rudd High School. Harold was drafted into the United States Army and served his country honorably from 1952 until his discharge in 1954.

On June 20, 1954, Harold was united in marriage to Jacqueline E. Draeger in Nora Springs, Iowa. The couple was blessed with three daughters.

Harold worked at Albert Lea Foundry for 30 years until it closed. He then went to work at Northbridge Mall in the maintenance department, and lastly worked at Shopko in Albert Lea.

Harold was a member of United Methodist Church in Albert Lea, where he sang in the church choir and mowed the grass. When he wasn’t working, Harold enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He enjoyed playing horseshoes, gardening and working on his antique 37B John Deere tractor. Harold had a big heart, was always helping others and could never say no. His pockets were always full of candy to be handed out to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren!

He is preceded in death by his wife, Jacqueline Ballhagen; both parents, Raymond (Mary) Jacobs; son in-law, Daniel Thompson; and brothers-in-law Lyle Cook and Boyd Burnette.

Those left to carry on his legacy include his children Sara (Ricky) Behrends, Amy Walton and Mary Thompson; grandchildren Christina (Brandon) Wallace, Katherine Johnson, David (Alicia) Johnson, Jamie (Weston) Harty and Alyce Walton; 12 great-grandchildren and another on the way soon; siblings Royal Ballhagen, Louise Burnette and Ruth Cook; as well as many nieces, nephews, extended relatives and friends.

Blessed be his memory.