Harold Rees

Harold Edwin Rees was born on September 26, 1913, in his parental home in Elgin, Township, Plymouth County, near Seney, IA. He was the third child of Gwyllium William and Emma Mathilda (Detloff) Rees. He attended country school in Seney, and was baptized in the Seney United Methodist Church as a child, and worked for his grandmother, Fredericka Willhemina Mochlmann Detloff as a child. During the Depression, Harold worked for neighbors, relatives and one year in Pipestone, MN. As a young man, Harold made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ. On June 8, 1938, Harold married Lois Arvella Zimmerman, the local school teacher. He began his farming north of LeMars, IA after receiving a farming deferment in WW II. Later he moved to the Merill, IA vicinity and farmed in that area for many years. He moved to Mountain Lake, MN in 1962, where he farmed until 1979. He was employed by the US Post Office in Mountain Lake, followed by employment with the City, County,and local farmers. Harold and Lois were foster care parents and adopted two children. Harold was a member of Farm Bureau. He was active in the Stanton Evangelical United Brethren Church Men's Group, School District Director near Merrill, and Prayer Breakfast Group of Lakeview Gospel Church. He was baptized in the Gospel Mennonite Church in 1963 as an adult. He was honored as Farmer of the Year for Terracing and soil conservation. He loved his family, and he supported missionaries and mission projects. Harold Rees, 94 ,of Mountain Lake, MN died on Saturday, May 17, 2008 at Collier Hospice Center in Wheat Ridge, CO. Survivors to rejoice in his home going are two daughters, Ardythe Stoesz and husband Orv Curt Stoesz of Denver, CO, and Nona Jean Proctor ; 3 grandsons, Kevin Ron Stoesz of Berthoud, CO, Curtis Stoesz and wife Janet of Sterling Heights, MI, and Clarke Stoesz and wife Kristine of Berthoud; 8 great grandchildren; Amanda Stoesz of Colorado Springs, CO, Alexander, Rhya, Luke and Natalie of Berthoud, Katie, Sarah and Emily of Sterling Heights; 3 sisters-in-law, Carol Zimmerman, Shirley Zimmerman, and Pearl Smith; many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Lois in 1982; an adopted son, Jerry; 3 brothers, Orval, Melvin and Wallace; and two sisters, Cleone and Lila Mae.