HARSH, Dougals C., age 89

Died: Sunday, May 3rd, 2015

Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 8, 2015 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church (1310 Main Street, Eau Claire) with Pastor Gail George officiating

Visitation: 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home and also one hour prior to service at church

Interment: St. John's Lutheran Cemetery, Eau Claire, Wisconsin

In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer memorials to the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls (2175 E. Park Avenue, CF, 54729) or to the charity of the donor's choosing

Douglas C. Harsh, age 89, of Eau Claire passed away at the Veteran's Home in Chippewa Falls on Sunday, May 3, 2015. He now joins his soul mate, Carol, where they will be joined together for eternity.

Doug was born on February 28, 1926 to the late Leslie and Esther (Black) Harsh in Rock Falls, WI where he was raised on the family farm with his four siblings. At age 17, he joined the U.S. Navy serving as a Radar Man Third Class on the LST 1000 during WW II from 1944-1946. After the Navy, he returned to the Rock Falls/Eau Claire area. He drove bus for Greyhound and semi for Chippewa Motor Freight and was also a vacuum cleaner salesman for a while.

Doug met the love of his life and soul mate, Carol Roehl, and they were married in Stillwater, MN on July 7, 1965. Together they lived, farmed and raised their 5 children. In 1977, Doug retired from driving semi and went to full-time farming. In 1992, they moved to Eau Claire. Doug started babysitting his grandchildren in 1997, truly loving every minute of it saying there was nothing better. He was truly so happy being with each of them. One of his favorite sayings was "there's always room for one more, just not one less." Doug had looked forward to traveling with Carol after she retired, but she suffered an unexpected heart attack in 2008 and passed away. After she was gone, things were never quite the same.

Throughout Doug's long life he did so many things and contributed as much as he could. Some of which included: was Albany Township Town Chairman, served on the Mondovi Public Schools School Board, was President of Farm Unity Alliance and an active member for many years helping distressed farmers try to stay on their farms. He also was a longtime member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Eau Claire where he served on the church council. He was also a lifetime member of VFW Post 305. But the most important roles of his life were as a husband, dad and grandpa.

Doug is survived by his children, Larry (Barb) of Wheat Ridge, CO, Maryellen (Joe) Beaver of Eau Claire, Debra (Ron) Barron of Monroe, MI, Diane Harsh of Monroe, MI, Charles (Sherrie) of Montello, WI, David (Miyuki) of Portage, WI, Jennifer (Eric) Anderson of Eau Claire, Doug II (Lisa) of Powell, WY, Les of Wheeler, Joe (Amy Bowe) of Chippewa Falls, and Janet (Luke) Weir of Eleva; grandchildren, Brittany and Blaine Anderson of Eau Claire, Logan and Shayla Harsh of Powell, WY, Ty Harsh of New Richmond, Elayna Mercer, Cheyanna and Marshall Harsh of Wheeler, Isabell, Maya and Tristan Weir of Eleva, Colin (Erin) Harsh of Centennial, CO, Kala (Bryan) Root and Nathan (fiancé Heather Olson) Beaver of Eau Claire, Sarah (Adam) Williams of Monroe, MI, Kalani (Gary) Alberts of Montello, Kory Harsh of Larkspur, CA, Kitara Harsh of Montello, Nikki Harsh of Omaha, NE and Kathy Harsh of Portage, WI; 11 great grandchildren; sister, June (Harold) Rosentrater of Eau Claire; and special friend, Florence Gullickson of Eau Claire; as well as many in-laws, nieces, nephews, other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Carol; son, Wayne; brother, Donald; sisters, Eleanor Holbrook and Ruth Kohlhepp.

Our family would like to extend a huge and heartfelt thank you to the staff at the Chippewa Falls Veteran's Home in Household D for the exceptional care, compassion and genuine outpouring of support for our dad and family during this difficult time. It meant more than you could know. It makes a difficult situation just a little bit easier to handle when people like that are there to help and care so much.