Obituaries
Obituary for Harold L. Erdmann
HAROLD L. ERDMANN, 81, of Prophetstown, IL died Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at Select Specialty Hospital in Davenport, IA.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 2, 2019 at the Bosma-Gibson Funeral Home in Prophetstown, IL, preceded with a visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m. A graveside service and interment will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 4th at Riverside Cemetery in Prophetstown. Memorials to Covenant House of Illinois, St. Joseph’s Indian School and The Salvation Army have been established.
Harold was born June 23, 1937 in Kewanee, IL to Zack T. and LuVern M. (Richards) Erdmann. He was educated in the Benton Street Grade School and graduated from Prophetstown High School. He then graduated from the USAF Tech School in Cheyenne, WY, and served as a teletype mechanic in the U. S. Air Force. On June 19, 1959 he married Mary Jane Reiley at the Lyndon United Methodist Church in Lyndon, IL. She died on January 4, 1996.
Harold held numerous jobs, starting at 15 when he and his brother worked as pin setters seven nights a week at the bowling alley. He also worked for his Uncle Perry at Prophetstown Township, and later for Taylor Curry. Other jobs included Les Kilburg, Micro Gear, and Phil Swanson with the township, where he cut trees on the ditch banks. He worked for RB&W for four years while farming, roofed buildings with his friend, Robert Goodwin, worked at Baar’s Potato Farm, Stones Tree Trimming, and as a waiter at Elli’s Bistro for a short time. Other jobs included farming at the peat farms, cutting and burning trees for John Bushno, and for Wyffels Hybrids for four years while he had a second job working for Haynor as well as a janitorial job on Sundays. Harold delivered flowers for Flowerland Florists with no pay. He owned and operated Emjay’s Bar. He was employed by Penberthy Manufacturing in Prophetstown for 35 years, and when on strike at Penberthy he worked at Casein. He had gotten into the scrap business, did tree jobs and volunteered at the food pantry for six years.
In his free time Harold was active in the Prophetstown Lion’s Club and was a lifetime member of Winning Wheels, Inc. He donated blood every chance he could and missed his 40 gallon goal by two pints. He was a member of the NRA and was an avid Chicago Cubs Fan and Green Bay Packer Fan. Harold was always there to help people in times of financial or physical need.
Survivors include two sisters, Amanda (Rodney) McNeill and Beverly Cooper, both of Prophetstown; one twin brother, Harley (Joyce) Erdmann of Sterling, IL; two cousins, Eileen Reiley and Norine Richards; many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife.
Read More
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 2, 2019 at the Bosma-Gibson Funeral Home in Prophetstown, IL, preceded with a visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m. A graveside service and interment will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, March 4th at Riverside Cemetery in Prophetstown. Memorials to Covenant House of Illinois, St. Joseph’s Indian School and The Salvation Army have been established.
Harold was born June 23, 1937 in Kewanee, IL to Zack T. and LuVern M. (Richards) Erdmann. He was educated in the Benton Street Grade School and graduated from Prophetstown High School. He then graduated from the USAF Tech School in Cheyenne, WY, and served as a teletype mechanic in the U. S. Air Force. On June 19, 1959 he married Mary Jane Reiley at the Lyndon United Methodist Church in Lyndon, IL. She died on January 4, 1996.
Harold held numerous jobs, starting at 15 when he and his brother worked as pin setters seven nights a week at the bowling alley. He also worked for his Uncle Perry at Prophetstown Township, and later for Taylor Curry. Other jobs included Les Kilburg, Micro Gear, and Phil Swanson with the township, where he cut trees on the ditch banks. He worked for RB&W for four years while farming, roofed buildings with his friend, Robert Goodwin, worked at Baar’s Potato Farm, Stones Tree Trimming, and as a waiter at Elli’s Bistro for a short time. Other jobs included farming at the peat farms, cutting and burning trees for John Bushno, and for Wyffels Hybrids for four years while he had a second job working for Haynor as well as a janitorial job on Sundays. Harold delivered flowers for Flowerland Florists with no pay. He owned and operated Emjay’s Bar. He was employed by Penberthy Manufacturing in Prophetstown for 35 years, and when on strike at Penberthy he worked at Casein. He had gotten into the scrap business, did tree jobs and volunteered at the food pantry for six years.
In his free time Harold was active in the Prophetstown Lion’s Club and was a lifetime member of Winning Wheels, Inc. He donated blood every chance he could and missed his 40 gallon goal by two pints. He was a member of the NRA and was an avid Chicago Cubs Fan and Green Bay Packer Fan. Harold was always there to help people in times of financial or physical need.
Survivors include two sisters, Amanda (Rodney) McNeill and Beverly Cooper, both of Prophetstown; one twin brother, Harley (Joyce) Erdmann of Sterling, IL; two cousins, Eileen Reiley and Norine Richards; many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife.
To plant a tree in memory of Harold L. Erdmann, visit the Tribute Store.
Loading...