William 'Bill' Harjes, Jr.

William "Bill" Herman Harjes, Jr., age 89, of Norwood Young America, previously of Green Isle, died Tuesday, October 9, 2018 at the Auburn Home in Waconia. Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 13 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Green Isle with Rev. Eric Rapp officiating. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. on Friday, October 12 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Green Isle, and one hour prior to service time on Saturday. Interment will be in the St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery in Green Isle with Military Honors. Bill was born on July 15, 1929 to William and Della (Thalmann) Harjes, Sr. He graduated from Glencoe High School, and then worked on the family farm until he was called into active duty with the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Germany for two years, where he met the love of his life, Dorothea Steckel. Bill and Dorothea were married on November 10, 1956 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Green Isle and were blessed with three children. They owned and operated Hill-Side Dairy farm in rural Green Isle. Bill was very active within his church community by serving as Sunday School Superintendent for 22 years, and serving on various boards and committees. He served as the Sibley County Commissioner for six years. Bill was a member of the Gideons, American Legion, and the Lions. He served on the Arlington-Green Isle School Board, the Bongards Creamery Board of Directors, and the Washington Lake Township Board. He is survived by his wife, Dorothea; children, Denise (Gene) Monson Alms of Lake Crystal, MN, Martina (James) Knowles of Beavercreek, OH, and Thomas (Cheryl) Harjes of Eden Prairie, MN; grandchildren, Britta (Monson) Fisher, Briana (Monson) Miller, Krista Monson, Garrett Monson, Greta Alms , Lauren Alms, Zachary Alms, Heather (Knowles) Heck, Cheryl (Knowles) FitzGerald, David Knowles, Laura Knowles, Eric Knowles, Shane Harjes, Kyle Harjes, and Amy Harjes; 8 great-grandchildren, with two arriving very soon; brother, Roger (Holly) Harjes of Green Isle, MN; sisters-in-law, Brigitte Bendt of Waconia, MN, and Inge-Lore Steckel of Kassel, Germany; family friend, Robert Westermann of Bad Homburg, Germany; and many cousins, relatives and friends. Bill is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Robert Harjes; son-in-law, Mark Monson; and brother-in-law, Peter Steckel. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to either St. Paul's Lutheran Church Building Fund or Gideons International.