Harold A Marshall

Celebration of Life Services for Harold A. Marshall will be held Friday, October 10, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.at the Williamsburg United Methodist Church in northern Phelps County, Nebraska with Pastor Kelo Kaleuati officiating. Private family inurnment will be held prior to services at the Williamsburg Cemetery, with Military Honors provided by the United States Navy Honors Team.

Harold Arthur Marshall, 93 years of age, of Oro Valley, Arizona, (formerly of the Williamsburg Township, Holdrege, Nebraska, and Kearney, Nebraska), passed away on Monday, July 21, 2014 at the Sonora at Splendido in Oro Valley, Arizona. He was born October 24, 1920 on the family farm in Williamsburg Township, in Phelps County, Nebraska, the youngest of five children of Oliver B. and Cassie M. (Kedey) Marshall. Harold received his early education from District #76 school in Phelps County. He attended Holdrege High School for 2 years then finished his education at Overton High School in Overton, Nebraska, graduating with the class of 1938.

Harold enlisted in the United States Navy in the fall of 1942 and was called up for service in January 1943. He served during W.W.II, in the Pacific in Guam, Saipan, Truk, and Okinawa and later, with the Occupational Forces in Japan. Following his honorable discharge in March of 1946, Harold returned to Nebraska to farm the family farmland in northern Phelps County.

On October 6, 1950, Harold was united in marriage to Dorthy Marie Beights at St. Martin's Episcopal Chapel in Denver, Colorado. The couple made their home on the family farm, where they raised two daughters: Ann Marie and Linda Dee. Harold farmed in the Williamsburg area until his retirement in 1983. He also was a Golden Harvest Seed Corn dealer. Harold and Dorthy moved into Holdrege in 1992. In February 1997 Harold lost Dorthy, the love of his life, to cancer.

In October 2001, Harold married Bonnie Siebels. They enjoyed several years together before the marriage ended in divorce.

Harold was a lifetime member of Williamsburg United Methodist Church, where he served in almost every capacity. He sat on the Williamsburg Cemetery Board, the R-3 School Board, and the county re-districting board, the Holdrege Equity Board, the Phelps County Senior Center Services Board, and ASCS. Harold served on the Phelps County Board of Supervisors from 1989 through September 1992 and as the County Farm Bureau President, twice. He was a past 4-H leader, a member of Kiwanis, the Literacy Council and part of the Immunization Clinic.

Harold enjoyed gardening, especially with Dorthy, and pursed the hobby of raising and hybridizing iris. He was a past president of the Dawson County Iris Society. Harold's fudge and penuche were legendary. He thoroughly enjoyed teaching family and friends his recipes and preparing plates for the Williamsburg Church Lord's Acre Auction. He was an avid sports fan and followed University of Nebraska Cornhusker football, volleyball and women's basketball. He shared his love of sports with his son-in-law as co-owner of "The FarmBoys" fantasy football team and enjoyed three very successful seasons from 2011 through 2013. In his later years, he also developed an interest in creative writing and tackled the project of writing, compiling and publishing a comprehensive family history, titled John and Sarah's Children, The History of the Marshall Family from 1793 to 2010.

Harold was a true gentleman and maintained a quick wit and keen, wry sense of humor, which he kept with him until the day he died. He was kind, generous and humble, with a life-long capacity to touch the hearts of others. He had an enviable memory and a gift for friendship, making new friends wherever he went, while remembering his old friends, even those decades gone. Harold was a man of great faith. He walked the walk every day of his life and was a shining example of a life lived serving God.

Besides his parents and his wife, Dorthy; Harold was preceded in death by four sisters: Inez Marshall, Roxanna Lind and her husband, Carl and their daughter, Julie, Harriet Dahlstet and her husband, Bernerd, and Roberta Lundstrom and her husband, LaMonte.

He leaves to mourn his passing; his daughters: Ann Marshall of New York, New York and Linda Donatelli and her husband, Arthur of Sonoita, Arizona; his nieces and nephews; his dear friends: John and Jackie Holt and their children Josh, J.C., Joe, Jory and Autumn of Loomis, Nebraska; and a host of other relatives and friends.

There will be no visitation as the family has chosen cremation.

A memorial has been established in Harold's honor and is kindly suggested to the Williamsburg United Methodist Church, the Williamsburg Cemetery Association or the Phelps County Community Foundation - Scholarship Fund.

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.