HAROLD LOUIS KJELDGAARD was born December 20, 1907, to Bernhard and Hansine (Christensen) Kjeldgaard on the family farm home north of Tekamah, where he grew up with nine brothers and three sisters. He passed away Sunday, January 24, 2010, at the Memorial Community Hospital in Blair, Nebraska, at the age of 102 years, following a short illness.

As a young man, Harold worked for others and even tried various jobs in Oregon before he began to rent the home farm from his father in 1938. When his father passed away in 1947, he wrote to each sibling asking permission to purchase their share of the inheritance, which they all readily gave.

On August 24, 1943, Harold and Ella Enola Kjeldgaard, a distant cousin, were united in marriage at Brush, Colorado. They had three children: David Harold, the first born son, Alice Ann, a daughter who lived for 2 days – a heartbreak after all these years, and Terry Allen, who was born two years later and brought joy to them all.  

Even though Harold grew many crops, his special pride was the raising of cattle. He even kept a small herd after he retired from farming. He and Enola sold the farm, built a new house and moved into Tekamah in 1997. He won awards for his beautiful flower-filled yard and continued his backyard truck garden.  He was still canning tomatoes this past fall.

Harold and Enola were very active members of the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Tekamah.     

They entertained many visitors over the years and welcomed the many relatives back to the farm for visits. They especially enjoyed sharing jokes and humorous tricks with their visitors. One very large labor of love was the compiling the Kjeldgaard family history. Enola did the corresponding, typing and compilation and Harold was always there to help with publishing. The 20 nieces and nephews that were able to be with Harold and help him celebrate his 100th birthday in 2007, were amazed at the wonderful memory that Harold was able to share with them. He knew the name of the man who re-built the barn as well as the type of nails that were used. He always knew everyone’s name when they visited and remembering the names of so many nieces and nephews is quite daunting.

Harold will be missed for so many reasons, but mostly because he was a friendly, kind person who always had a kind word to say. For those who were his kin, he was an earthly reminder of the wonderful family they can claim as their own.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Enola in April 1999; infant daughter, Alice Ann; nine brothers, Clarence, Viggo, Thorvald, Emil, Howard, Otto, Albert, Fred and Frank and three sisters, Ella, Anna and Clara.

Survivors include his sons, David Harold Kjeldgaard of Omaha, Nebraska and Terry Allen Kjeldgaard of Tekamah; 2 grandchildren, Katrina Venn and Karl Kjeldgaard; 6 great grandchildren; many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.

FUNERAL SERVICE: Thursday, January 28, 2010, 1:30 p.m. at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Tekamah.

VISITATION: Wednesday, January 27, 2010, 1 - 8 p.m.with the family receiving friends from 6 - 8 p.m. at Pelan Funeral Home in Tekamah. Visitation Thursday will be held at the church one hour prior to the service.

BURIAL: Tekamah Cemetery

MEMORIALS: The Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 210 South 12th St., Tekamah, NE 68061-1413 and the Siena/Francis House, 1702 Nicholas, Omaha, NE 68102.

Please feel free to send your condolences to the family.
Each condolence will be printed and given to the family after the service.

pelanfuneralservices@hotmail.com