Funeral services for Louie Hargens were held Saturday, July 31, 1999, at 2:00 p.m. at Ohde Funeral Home in Manning, Iowa. Reverend Larry McAlpine of the United Methodist Church in Manning officiated the service with Marlene Jahn as vocalist and Connie Siepker as organist. Interment was held at Manning Cemetery, Manning, Iowa, with Wayne Zimmerman, Jason Boell, Scott Grage, Scott Hargens, Dennis Forke, Bob Hargens and Billie Bartelson as casket bearers. Honorary casket bearers were Stanley Ewoldt, Curt Janssen, Kenny Ahrenholtz, Dale Bueltel, Leo Sextro, Dan Muhlbauer, and Jeff Muhlbauer.

Louie John Peter, son of Peter Nicholas and Josephine Augusta (Hell) Hargens, was born January 8, 1920, at rural Manning, Iowa. He attended rural schools near Manning and Manning High School.

On September 19, 1934, Louie was united in marriage with Elsie Catherine Sophia Sinow at the Presbyterian Manse in Manning by Pastor Ellis Jones Hough.

Louie worked as a carpenter for a short time, farmed several farms north of Manning, and farmed his present farm west of Manning for over 52 years. He loved his farm, fishing, playing cards, polka dancing and his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Due to failing health, Louie entered the Manning Plaza Nursing Home in April of 1999, where he died on Wednesday, July 28, 1999, at the age of 89 years, 6 months, and 20 days of age.

Louie is preceded in death by his parents: a brother, Walter Hargens; a son-in-law, Bill Bartelson; and two grandchildren: Enid Bartelson and Jenny Lynn Forke.

Louie is survived by his wife, Elsie Hargens, of rural Manning; seven children: Marlene and her husband, Leo Zimmerman, of Griswold; Marion Bartelson of Manning; Alan Hargens of Anaheim, California; Arden Hargens and his wife, Gloria, of Manilla; Lila and her husband, Dennis Forke, of Cedar Rapids; Jerry Hargens and his wife, Deborah, of Glidden; and Lori and her husband, Darrell Voege, of Manilla; twenty-eight grandchildren and forty-two great-grandchildren; one niece, one nephew and other relatives and friends.