Harold Alvin Jahnz

Harold Jahnz, age 88, passed away on Wednesday, September 16, 2020, at home in Lewisville after a tough battle with cancer. The family will receive friends from 5-7 PM on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at Zaharia Family Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held on Wednesday September 23, 2020 at 10 AM at St. John's Lutheran Church Willow Creek with Rev. John Bennett officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in St. John's Lutheran Church North Cemetery, rural Vernon Center. Zaharia Family Funeral Home in Truman is entrusted with arrangements. www.ZahariaFamilyFuneral.com

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, masks are required and the number of people in attendance will be limited. Social distancing will be enforced. A Live stream of the service will be available on the funeral home website.

Harold Alvin Jahnz was born December 24, 1931, in Pleasant Mound Township, Blue Earth County, Minnesota and was the oldest of 3 children born to Alvin and Helen (Kietzer) Jahnz.  He attended primary school in Willow Creek, and went on to graduate with the Truman High School class of 1950. Harold then joined the US Navy and served during the Korean Conflict. On June 7, 1953, he married Madeline Sodeman at St. John’s Lutheran Church in South Branch. After Harold’s honorable discharge in May of 1955, he worked for Dakota Iron in Mankato for the next 12 years. Although, Harold was a farmer through and through. Together, he and Madeline raised their family and farmed their land in rural Amboy. He was a man of many trades- Father, Farmer and Friend, including many clients that he came to know being an insurance agent for over 40 years with Fairmont Farmers Mutual Insurance.  Harold enjoyed the farm and the farming. He loved hard work. He loved his family, who he taught the value of hard work.  The work ethics that they each have today can be credited to his guidance and love. The legacy of Harold Jahnz is that of integrity, taking pride in all you do, and hard work. Harold can be summed up in this: He was a man of few words – he seldom expressed himself you were not left to wonder- you just knew.  Harold was an active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church Willow Creek as an elder of the church.  He was a Pleasant Mount Township clerk and a member of the Lewisville American Legion Post 561.

Harold is survived by his wife, Madeline Jahnz of Lewisville; daughters, Wendy Lambrechts of Falls Church, VA and Brenda (Brad) Clow of Sioux Falls, SD; son, Wes Jahnz of St. James; 7 grandchildren, Brittany (Gustavo) Camacho, Jory Clow, Courtney (Corey) Thorpe, Justin (Jennifer) Pahl, Jamie (Scott) Snow, Austin Jahnz and Alexis Jahnz; 14 great-grandchildren, Baron, Knightly, Katelyn, Alyssa, Taia, Teagan, Tatum, Riley, Tristan, Desiree, Jordis, Jazzy, Johanna and Kallie; son-in-law, Gary Pahl of Truman; sister, Darlene Black of Amboy; brother Jerry Jahnz of Lake Crystal; and many other relatives and friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Carrie Pahl; son-in-law, Claude Lambrechts; brother-in-law, Delbert Black; sister-in-law, DeLores Jahnz and stillborn twins. 

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