Harold Jurgensen

Harold John Jurgensen, son of Peter and Verna (Thomssen) Jurgensen, was born September 11, 1947, at the Foderberg Nursing Home in Manilla, Iowa. He was baptized and later confirmed into the Lutheran faith. He grew up near Manilla and graduated from the Manilla Community School with the class of 1965.

On October 4, 1966, Harold was drafted into the United States Army. He attended basic training at Fort Bliss, Texas, followed by advanced individual training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. After completing his initial training, he was assigned to Fort Hood, Texas, where he went on maneuvers, worked in the motor pool checking vehicles, and participated in tank operations across Texas using paper maps, long before the days of computers.

In August of 1967, Harold was deployed to Vietnam and landed in Cam Ramh Bay. He was assigned to the 2nd of the 40th Artillery, 199th Light Infantry Brigade. He spent a week with B Company, a week with C Company and was finally assigned to D Battery which was the Headquarters Battery. His responsibilities included fire direction control. After four months, the Battery was assigned to Long Binh and Saigon area. This was prior to the Tet Offensive which began in January of 1968, and he remained in that area for the remainder of his time in Vietnam. Harold received his honorable discharge on August 17, 1968. Harold obtained the rank of SP5. In 2013, as a veteran, Harold was chosen to attend the Honor Flight to Washington, DC in September of 2016. He enjoyed his trip immensely. He was also the recipient of the Quilt of Valor in April of 2024.

After returning home, he farmed alongside his father and worked with Raymond Ohde at Gruhn Hybrid Corn Company. Harold later began employment with Molded Products in Harlan, where he dedicated the remainder of his career.

Harold was united in marriage to Marjorie Ann Simons on November 24, 1973, at the First Baptist Church in Denison. They were blessed with one son, Eric. Shortly after, the family made their home in the country, three miles east of Manilla, where they remained throughout their lives.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Manilla, Zion Lutheran Church in Manning, the American Legion in Manilla and VFW in Manning. In his free time, Harold enjoyed visiting Carroll’s Pizza Ranch for pizza and Culver’s for ice cream. He also had a love for gardening and raising a wide variety of chickens, especially exotic breeds. Over the years, he also raised peacocks, rabbits, and other animals.

Harold passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at Manning Regional Healthcare Center in Manning, Iowa, at the age of 77 years, 11 months, and 23 days. In his passing, Harold gave the gift of life to others through organ and tissue donation with the Iowa Donor Network. He was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law, William and Mildred (Heeren) Simons; sister, Alice Malone; sister-in-law, Pam Jurgensen; and brothers-in-law, Hubert “Joe” Malone and Gene Beam.

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Marjorie Jurgensen and son, Eric Jurgensen both of Manilla; sister, Hazel Beam of Dow City; brother, Gerald Jurgensen of Manilla; brother-in-law, Keith (Jill) Simons of Woodbine; special cousin, Debbie (Gary) Keesling of Denison; nieces, nephews, and other family, friends and special cat, Finnley.

His memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on his birthday, Thursday, September 11, 2025, with visitation from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. prior to the service, all at Zion Lutheran Church in Manning. Inurnment with Military Honors will be held at a later date in the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Adel, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to the family.