Harm Degrote
d. February 28, 2021
Harm DeGrote, age 89, of Clara City passed away on Sunday, February 28, 2021 at Carris Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.
Harm William DeGrote was born on December 16, 1931 in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. He was the son of Peter and Minnie (Freese) DeGrote. Harm was confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Clara City. He attended country school and then entered the United States Army on August 28, 1952, serving our country during the Korean War.
On January 7, 1953, Harm married Marilyn Schoen at St. Clara Catholic Church while on furlough before going back to Japan. After being honorably discharge on August 11, 1954, he returned to Clara City where the couple began farming on the Schoen family farm. They were blessed with 7 children, Vicky, Valerie, Steve, Jeff, Becky, Lisa and Kathy.
Harm was a member of the Clara City American Legion and a faithful member of St. Clara Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. In 1993, he and Marilyn retired, moving into Clara City but he never really left farming. Each Spring and Fall, Harm would find himself working the fields and enjoying using the new farm equipment well into his 80s.
Harm enjoyed deer hunting, feeding the birds, playing cards, camping and taking bus trips, but fishing was his favorite. If you went fishing with him, you would be using his bait and you were sure to get a few pointers in the process. He loved polka music and would keep the beat with his foot. Harm loved to have fun and laugh. Teasing, playing jokes and one-liners were his specialties.
Harm is survived by his loving wife, Marilyn DeGrote of Clara City; children, Vicky Logue of Yankton, SD, Steve (Sunny) DeGrote of Clara City, Jeff DeGrote of Cokato, Becky (Bill) Ellefloot of Coeur d’Alene, ID, Lisa (David) Lindbloom of Sartell, Kathy (Jeff) Davids of Clara City; grandchildren, Nicole Hoffman, Cameron Hoffman, Benjamin (Crystal) Hoffman, Sonja Giinthir, Cassidy Almquist, Peter DeGrote, Jesse DeGrote, Alissa (Justin) Platt, Jason (Katie) Ellefloot, Christopher (Brittany) Lindbloom, Valerie (Adam) Giinthir, Megan Lindbloom, Reed (Jenna) Davids, Robyn (Craig) Warne, Rachel Davids; great grandchildren, Leo, Kaitlynn, Austin, Levi, Tanner, Witten, Jaylyn, Jordyn, Leighton, Monroe, Sumner, Colton, Brooklyn, Wyatt, Aria, Tate, Benjamin; brothers, Virgil (Jeanne) DeGrote of Raymond, Francis DeGrote of Willmar; sister-in-law, Erma DeGrote of Clara City; as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends..
Harm is preceded in death by parents, Peter and Minnie DeGrote; daughter, Valerie; grandson, Chase DeGrote; brother, Bud DeGrote; sister-in-law, Wilamine DeGrote.
Memorials Preferred to Clara City Ambulance and Clara City Care Center.
Harm William DeGrote was born on December 16, 1931 in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. He was the son of Peter and Minnie (Freese) DeGrote. Harm was confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Clara City. He attended country school and then entered the United States Army on August 28, 1952, serving our country during the Korean War.
On January 7, 1953, Harm married Marilyn Schoen at St. Clara Catholic Church while on furlough before going back to Japan. After being honorably discharge on August 11, 1954, he returned to Clara City where the couple began farming on the Schoen family farm. They were blessed with 7 children, Vicky, Valerie, Steve, Jeff, Becky, Lisa and Kathy.
Harm was a member of the Clara City American Legion and a faithful member of St. Clara Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. In 1993, he and Marilyn retired, moving into Clara City but he never really left farming. Each Spring and Fall, Harm would find himself working the fields and enjoying using the new farm equipment well into his 80s.
Harm enjoyed deer hunting, feeding the birds, playing cards, camping and taking bus trips, but fishing was his favorite. If you went fishing with him, you would be using his bait and you were sure to get a few pointers in the process. He loved polka music and would keep the beat with his foot. Harm loved to have fun and laugh. Teasing, playing jokes and one-liners were his specialties.
Harm is survived by his loving wife, Marilyn DeGrote of Clara City; children, Vicky Logue of Yankton, SD, Steve (Sunny) DeGrote of Clara City, Jeff DeGrote of Cokato, Becky (Bill) Ellefloot of Coeur d’Alene, ID, Lisa (David) Lindbloom of Sartell, Kathy (Jeff) Davids of Clara City; grandchildren, Nicole Hoffman, Cameron Hoffman, Benjamin (Crystal) Hoffman, Sonja Giinthir, Cassidy Almquist, Peter DeGrote, Jesse DeGrote, Alissa (Justin) Platt, Jason (Katie) Ellefloot, Christopher (Brittany) Lindbloom, Valerie (Adam) Giinthir, Megan Lindbloom, Reed (Jenna) Davids, Robyn (Craig) Warne, Rachel Davids; great grandchildren, Leo, Kaitlynn, Austin, Levi, Tanner, Witten, Jaylyn, Jordyn, Leighton, Monroe, Sumner, Colton, Brooklyn, Wyatt, Aria, Tate, Benjamin; brothers, Virgil (Jeanne) DeGrote of Raymond, Francis DeGrote of Willmar; sister-in-law, Erma DeGrote of Clara City; as well as nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends..
Harm is preceded in death by parents, Peter and Minnie DeGrote; daughter, Valerie; grandson, Chase DeGrote; brother, Bud DeGrote; sister-in-law, Wilamine DeGrote.
Memorials Preferred to Clara City Ambulance and Clara City Care Center.
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