Harold Wilfred Westphal

Harold Wilfred Westphal, 83, died at his home, on Tuesday, July 10, 2012, of cancer. He was a great example of courage and strength in dealing with his last illness.He was born on June 15, 1929, a son of the late Wilfred and Viola Schwertfeger Westphal. He grew up on the family farm and attended Cowham School, a one room schoolhouse. After trying high school for three days, he decided that farming was for him. He worked on the family farm and later worked as a hired man for Quentin and Verona Davies for 14 years. The Westphal’s bought the Seiler farm in 1961 and there he milked cows for 50 years. Harold retired on May 31, 2012, after planting the corn and starting the first hay crop.Even though Harold was single, he helped raise children in three families. First it was his younger siblings, then the children of Quentin and Verona Davies, and lastly, while living with Lyle and Nancy, their children, Angela, Brian, and Jonathan. Family was very important to him and he enjoyed the holidays and birthdays with all of them, especially his great nieces and nephews, Marissa, Kyle, Benjamin, and Gwendolyn.Farming was his life and nothing gave him more pleasure than farming with his brother, Lyle and nephews, Brian and Jonathan. He was always willing to help a neighbor or friend, especially during a barn fire, helping with hay, combining grain, or loaning machinery. Harold also enjoyed “old time music” especially polka music.Harold was a life member of Salem Eldorado United Methodist Church, where he was an active member. When he was younger, setting up and taking down the stage at church for the Christmas Eve play was a big project we often heard about. On Sundays, during haying time, he used to wonder if it was better to go to church and worry about the possibility that the hay would get rained on or go and do the hay and think about God and his goodness while getting up the hay. Quite often, he made the hay. He is survived by two brothers: Ronald (Fern) Westphal and Lyle (Nancy) Westphal; a sister, Joyce Boeck (friend Roger Becker); nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.He was preceded in death by his parents.The funeral service will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 12, 2012, at Salem Eldorado United Methodist Church, W7910 Church Road, Eldorado, with Rev. C. Phillip Burt officiating. Burial will be in the parish cemetery on Friday at 9:00 a.m.The visitation will be on Thursday at church from 5:00 p.m. until the time of service.Memorials may be directed to Salem Eldorado Cemetery fund.

Harold Wilfred Westphal

June 15, 1929 - July 10, 2012