Harold Ballhagen

Funeral services for Harold R. Ballhagen will be held at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea, with Chaplain Don Malinsky officiating.  Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service.  Burial will be in Lakewood Cemetery.
Harold passed away on Monday, February 10, 2020 at Our House Memory Care in Austin, MN.  He was 87 years old.
Harold R. Ballhagen was born on July 26, 1932 in Rudd, IA to parents Raymond and Mary (Jacobs) Ballhagen.  He grew up in Rudd and graduated from Rudd High School.  Harold was drafted into the United States Army and served our country honorably from 1952 until his discharge in 1954.
On June 20, 1954, Harold was united in marriage to Jacqueline E. Draeger in Nora Springs, IA.  The couple was blessed with three daughters.  Harold worked at the Albert Lea Foundry for 30 years until it closed.  He then went to work at the Northbridge Mall in the maintenance department, and lastly worked at ShopKo in Albert Lea.
Harold was a member of the United Methodist Church in Albert Lea where he sang in the church choir and mowed the grass.  When he wasn’t working, Harold enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  He enjoyed playing horseshoes, gardening, and working on his antique 37B John Deere tractor.  Harold had a big heart, was always helping others, and could never say no.  His pockets were always full of candy to be handed out to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren!
He is preceded in death by his wife, Jacqueline Ballhagen; both parents, Raymond (Mary) Jacobs; son in-law, Daniel Thompson; brothers in-law, Lyle Cook and Boyd Burnette.
Those left to carry on his legacy include his children, Sara (Ricky) Behrends, Amy Walton, and Mary Thompson; grandchildren, Christina (Brandon) Wallace, Katherine Johnson, David (Alicia) Johnson, Jamie (Weston) Harty, and Alyce Walton; 12 great-grandchildren and another on the way soon! Siblings, Royal Ballhagen, Louise Burnette, and Ruth Cook; as well as many nieces, nephews, extended relatives and friends.
Blessed be his memory.