Harold Peter Joens

Manning Monitor article------ 1943

Harold Joens in Sicily
Cpl. Harold P. Joens writes from somewhere in Sicily, stating that he is getting the Monitor and sends his thanks. He received his first early this month.

Harold writes that he is getting along fine over there and that he has seen a lot of different countries.
In closing he says he hopes he can be back in Manning again soon.

Harold Joens
Manning Monitor
January 17, 2002

Funeral services for Harold Joens were held Thursday, January 10, 2002 at 1:30 p.m. at Ohde Funeral Home in Manilla, Iowa. Reverend Brian Sherman of the United Church of Manilla officiated with Barbara Agan as organist.
Interment was in the Nishnabotna Cemetery in Manilla, Iowa with Roger Joens, Bud Joens, Tom Joens, Jeff Whannell, Curt Montgomery and Jeff Joens as casketbearers.
There were Military Honors by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3517 and the American Legion Emil Ewoldt Post 22 of Manning, Iowa.

Harold Peter, son of Walter Christian and Laura Schroeder Joens, was born April 18, 1919, near Arcadia, Iowa. He attended country school near his home and worked on the family farm and for neighbors.

In March of 1942 Harold entered the United States Army and on December 24, 1942, he was united in marriage with Irene Ermal Davis at Papillion, Nebraska while on leave. Four children were born to this union. Harold and Ermal made their home in California while Harold completed his training. Ermal returned to Manilla when Harold was sent overseas where he served with the First Armored Division in North Africa, Sicily and Italy attaining the rank of Tech Sergeant. After he received his honorable discharge in September of 1944, Harold rejoined Ermal and they made their home near Manilla.

Harold did custom farming, worked as a farm hand and trucked before becoming a mechanic in the mid 1950's. In the mid 1960's, he began working with Western Engineering Road Construction in Harlan and worked his way up to foreman before retiring in 1981.

Harold and Ermal moved to Harlan in 1974 and in 1984 Ermal became a resident of the Denison Care Center in Denison where she died January 26, 1994. Harold then moved to Dension for a short time before returning to Harlan.

Harold was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3517 and American Legion Post 22 in Manning. He enjoyed fishing and playing cards and was a member of the Hayes Township Schuetzen Verein at the Five-Mile House, earning first place in the King Shoot around 1941.

On Monday, January 7, 2002, Harold died unexpectedly at Nebraska Health Systems in Omaha, Nebraska after being admitted the previous day. He was 82 years, 8 months and 20 days of age.

Besides his parents and wife, Harold was preceded in death by a daughter Judy in infancy, a brother Clifford Joens and a grandson Steven Joens.

He is survived by three children: Roger Joens and his wife Marsha of Council Bluffs; Florence Fox of Fallbrook, California; James "Bud" Joens and his wife Sarah of Houston, Texas; four grandchildren: Tracy and her husband Curt Montgomery of Lincoln, Nebraska; Jane and her husband Jeff Whannell of Council Bluffs; Tom Joens and Laura Joens of Council Bluffs; five great-grandchildren: Steven, Taylor and Lauren Montgomery and Conner and Gemma Whannell; two brothers Gilmore Joens and his wife Marian of Arthur and Robert Joens of Montrose, Colorado; a sister Lois and her husband Vertis Hargens of LeMars; a special friend Emogene Hansman of Denison; and by nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.