Harold Portner

Harold Edward Portner was born October 6, 1918 in Lafayette Township, Nicollet County, MN, the son of Andrew J. and Frances (Ries) Portner. He graduated from Holy Trinity High School in New Ulm, MN in 1936. He married Dolores Kachelmeier November 12, 1941 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye. Dolores died of Cancer February 22, 1961 giving Harold full responsibility of caring for their four children, Carol Jean, 13,, Joyce, 11, Mavis, 8, and Harold Jr 6. On July 15, 1967 Harold married Joan Soukup. Thomas and Mark were the children of that union. His lifetime occupation was in agriculture. Besides crop farming and dairying he also was a corn and soybean seed salesman for 35 years. In 2002 he received the top award as Dealer of the Year from Latham Seed Co. which leads over 450 dealers in 6 states. Harold had in many capacities of leadership in the MN Brown Swiss Assn., including President from 1957 to 1960. On the national level he served as director and Vice - President from 1969 to 1975. He had life membership in the Dairy Shrine Club and in 1980 he received the MN Outstanding Registered Cattle Breeders' Award. He help organize the County DHIA in 1945. He has been an active member of the Farm Bureau. He was also member of the local school board and advisor in the 4-H. St. Mary's Catholic Church and Parish meant so much to him. He was Chairman of the Parish Counsel in 1976 when the church was redecorated and the Parish celebrated its Centennial. He was Grand Knights of the S.E. Knights of Columbus from 1965 to 1967 and also a 4th degree Knight. He was a member of the Schoenstatt Movement in Sleepy Eye and cherished the memories of the trip to Schoenstatt, Germany and the site of the original Shrine. Besides working hard, Harold also played hard. He especially enjoyed golfing and bowling. In 1997 he was inducted into the S.E. American Bowling Congress Hall of Fame. He has a Hole-in-one in golfing twice. April 9, 2003 Harold's life really shifted gears as he experienced a major stroke paralyzing his right side and confining him to a wheelchair. In 2005 his eye sight deteriorated to the point that he was clinically blind. For someone who has said he was never born to sit still - it was a heavy cross to bear. His faith in God was his support and he trusted that by offering up the trials of each day he could help his family even more on a spiritual level then he ever could help them when he was physically active. His children and grandchildren's visits were his most cherished moments and his prayer was for the day all will be together in Heaven. Harold died on Friday, December 15, 2006 at Divine Providence Home in Sleepy Eye, MN at the age of 88 years. He is survived by his wife - Joan of Sleepy Eye; children - Carol Jean Portner of Gainsville, FL, Joyce Portner of Minneapolis, Mavis (Thomas) Vermaak of Ashland, WI, Harold C. (Leslie) Portner Jr of Sleepy Eye, Thomas J. (Mary Jo) Portner of Sleepy Eye, and Mark E ( Lisa) Portner of Sleepy Eye; 16 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren; sisters - Sr. M. Madeline Portner S.C.C. Wilmette, IL and Frances Brandel of New Ulm; a sisters-in-law - Alice Portner and Donna Kachelmeier; and a brothers-in-law - Raymond Portner, Anthony Kachelmeier, and Aloysius Kachelmeier. He is preceded in death by his parents; wife - Dolores (Kachelmeier) Portner; an infant daughter; brothers - Bernard and Alex; and sisters - Dolores Machtemes and Theresa Portner.