NESS, Harlan E., age 83

Died: Saturday, August 29th, 2015

Funeral Service: 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 4, 2015 at Hope Lutheran Church (corner of Starr Avenue and Eddy Lane) with the Reverend Rick Lund officiating

Visitation: at the church on Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. and also one hour prior to service on Friday

Interment: Bloomer Cemetery, Bloomer, Wisconsin

Due to pollen allergies, memorials are preferred in lieu flowers to either Hope Lutheran Church or to the charity of the donor's choosing

Harlan Eugene Ness, 83, of Eau Claire died on Saturday, August 29, 2015 at the Our House Memory Care facility in Chippewa Falls.

Harlan was born on July 15, 1932 to the late Hillman and Mary (Miller) Ness in Dallas, WI. His family moved to Bloomer in 1939 and grew up there, graduating from Bloomer High School in 1950. Harlan worked for Dairyland Power until he joined the U.S. Navy in 1951. He proudly served our country during the Korean War sailing around the world on the destroyer USS McGowan. Having met the love of his life in high school band, he was united in marriage to Rosemary Meier on July 17, 1954 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Bloomer. Harlan was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1955.

Following his service in the Navy, Harlan worked for Cooper Associates in Rice Lake (where daughter Julie was born). Later, he began working for Montgomery Ward in Rice Lake, he was then transferred to Spencer, IA (where daughter Jennae was born), Dubuque, IA, Jamestown, ND and Huron, SD. After this, Harlan and Rosemary moved back to their hometown of Bloomer, finally settling in Eau Claire in 1968. He continued a career in retail over the years working for Consumer Co-op, M & N Sporting Goods Store (of which he was a co-owner), Holmes Greep, and finally joining the Eau Claire Wal-Mart when the store opened. He retired in January of 2012.

Harlan was a member of Hope Lutheran Church where he sang in the choir, served on the church council, played on the Dartball team, and was a pastoral partner. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 53, VFW 305, AmVets 32, and EC Noon Lions. For 48 years, he sang in many Barbershop Chorus' and Quartets.

Harlan is survived by his daughters, Julie (Brian) Petersen of Eau Claire and Jennae (Jeff) Giles of Ashland, WI; grandchildren, Jennifer (Andrew) Twist of Bentonville, AR, Jonathan Giles of Ashland, Brandon Petersen of Fond du Lac, WI, Jason Giles of Ashland, and Jocelyn Petersen of Eau Claire; great-granddaughter, Caroline Twist; many nieces and a nephew, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Rosemary, and sister, Lorraine (David) Kitch.

The family would like to thank the staff and caregivers of the Chippewa Falls Our House facilities and the St. Croix Hospice for their excellent care provided to Harlan over the last year.