Services for Harold Fruetel
Harold M. Fruetel, 97 of Bemidji, MN died Sunday, November 22, 2015 at Gold Pine Home in Bemidji, MN.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 am Saturday, November 28, 2015 at the United Methodist Church in Bemidji, Minnesota with Rev. Rob Kopp officiating. Visitation will be from 4:30 – 7 pm Friday Nov. 27th at the Cease Family Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday. Interment will be at the Greenwood Cemetery with military honors provided by the American Legion post # 14 of Bemidji.
Harold was born September 20, 1918 in McIntosh, MN, the son of Gerhard and Anne Marie
(Schimmelpfennig) Fruetel. He was raised on a farm near McIntosh, where he graduated from high
school in 1936. He attended Northern Business College in Bemidji; graduating in 1938. He was a
bookkeeper for the Russell Creamery in Bemidji for 2 years before beginning his postal service career.
Harold served in the US Army from 1942-45, participated in the Battle of the Bulge with the 106th
Infantry Division, and was honorably discharged. He married Erma Carlson on September 16, 1945 in Bemidji, MN.
Harold worked for the US Postal Service in Bemidji for 36 years and retired as Bemidji postmaster and regional manager in 1976. He was a member of Veterans of the Bulge, National Association of Postmasters, National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, and a life-time member of the American Legion, DAV and VFW. Harold was a dedicated volunteer in many community organizations, including Rotary for 50 years (past president and a Paul Harris Fellow), American Legion for 70 years (past commander), Mississippi Headwaters Blood Bank, Bemidji Planning Commission, Cub Scouts and Bemidji United Methodist Church. He was a recipient of the Outstanding Beltrami County Senior Citizen award in 1994.
Harold enjoyed hunting, fishing, tomato gardening, wood-working, local and WWII
history, dancing and old-time music, and spending time with his children and grandchildren.
He is survived by his daughters: Sharon Fruetel of Bemidji and Judy (Bob) Scottum of St. Croix Falls, WI; son: Jerry (Roz Johnson) Fruetel of Bloomington, MN; 5 grandchildren (Nils, Erika, Ellie, Peter and Andrea), and 5 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Erma Fruetel 1993.
Condolences may be left at ceasefuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are encouraged to the donor's preferred charity.