Eugene "Swede" Harms

Funeral Services for Eugene E. "Swede" Harms will be conducted from the First United Methodist Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Thursday, March 17, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. with Reverend Dale Lambert, officiating. Interment will be in Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege with military honors provided by the Martin Horn American Legion Post #66 in conjunction with the United States Army National Guard Military Honors Team.

Eugene Edward "Swede" Harms, 83 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Sunday, March 13, 2011 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. Swede was born November 18, 1927 at Bruning, Nebraska, the eldest of three children of Herman and Leona (Hawkinson) Harms. He received his primary education from Beaver City, Nebraska and then graduated from Holdrege High School with the class of 1946. After high school, Swede was inducted into the United States Army on October 2, 1946 and served his country during WW II until his honorable discharge on February 26, 1948.

Following his service, Swede attended the Omaha College of Barbery graduating in 1951. On January 23, 1949, Swede was united in marriage to Pauline M. Freburg and to this union three children were born: Gary, James, and Vicki. The family made their home in Holdrege, where Swede continued in his father's footsteps as a Barber. Swede owned and operated, Harm's Barber Shop from 1952 until his retirement in 1998. On January 18, 2005 he was preceded in death by his wife, Pauline.

Swede was a member of the First United Methodist Church, where he served as an usher and on the communion committee. He was also a member of the Elks Lodge, American Legion Post and the V.F.W. Swede and Pauline enjoyed camping, boating and bicycling through the years.

Besides his parents and wife, Swede was preceded in death by his son, Gary in infancy; brother, Gregory Harms; and brothers-in-law: Dick Wintermute, and Forrest and Norris Freburg. He leaves to mourn his passing his daughter, Vicki Pedley and her husband, Joseph of Durango, Colorado; his son, James Harms and his wife, Maureen of Plano, Texas; four grandchildren: Jessica Bayh and her husband, Christopher of Bethesda, Maryland and Christopher Pedley of Arlington, Virginia and Jamie Harms and Kelsey Harms both of Norman, Oklahoma; one sister, Dianne Wintermute of Holdrege; two sisters-in-law: Jan Harms of Ft. Collins, Colorado and Roma Jean Lofquist and her husband, Wayne of Bertrand, Nebraska; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Swede will lie in state at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege on Wednesday, March 16, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

A memorial has been established in his memory and will be designated at a later date.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.