One of the proudest Viking Fans, Harpo (Darvis S.) Lemmage left us on March 11, 2020. We lost the best Dad, Grandpa, and PaPa ever. He had said many times that he had a happy, long life. Dad was 96 years old.
He was married to the love of his life, Verdell, who passed 10 years ago. For over 60 years, he signed every card he gave her, "You are my everything."
He left behind three children, Pixie (Patricia), the boy, Hal, and the youngest, Jody. Three grandchildren, Kimberly Schlewitz and her husband, Sam, Christ (Christopher), and Michael. Papa also left three great-grandchildren, Diontrey and Zaydion Abley, also Kahlia Verdell Schlewitz.
His grandchildren have wonderful memories of Grandpa. Kim remembers going to Grandma's and Grandpa's after school. She'd head for the garage to say "Hi" to Grandpa. He'd always asked if she learned anything, she'd say "no," and Grandpa would say, "Then you have to go back tomorrow." Christ remembers his Grandpa was the best Dumpster Diver ever, and he could always see Grandpa's feet sticking out the top. He always made something good out of the parts he found. Michael said the best times of his life were at Gramp's and Gram Cracker's, riding the little three-wheeler and digging holes as deep as he was tall!
The great-grandchildren remember Papa with laughs. Diontrey was about three and was playing in the sandbox when he found a pair of Monster teeth! Actually, they were Papa's. That summer, Dad had lost four pairs of false teeth when they dropped out of his pockets. Zaydion was riding one of Papa's "dumpster bikes," he ran into a tree. Bees came out, and when he tried to bike away, the bike wouldn't move. Kahlia always loved when Papa would visit her and bring her a Balloon and have Tea Parties!
Dad and his brother, Dale, had a milk-hauling business when they were young.
Dad couldn't join the Army in WW ll because of a horribly broken leg in a trucking accident, which put him in the hospital for a year. The Army wouldn't take him because of his leg injury, so to help in the War effort, he headed for Hawaii where he fixed airplanes. He then started Harpo's Garage in downtown Rockford, Minnesota. Later, he worked for Sam Bloom; he said he learned more from Sam than any other man. Then, he worked for International Harvester. They transferred him to Eau Claire, Wisconsin in 1963. He worked for them for six weeks in Eau Claire and made friends he's had for almost 60 years. We were ready to head home to Rockford when he was offered a job running the American Materials Garage, and he took it. He retired at 57. He started work again a few years later delivering trucks. When he was 88 years old, he retired for good!
Two of my Dad's favorite hobbies were playing baseball for the Rockford Team. I spent many evenings down at the ball field watching practice and sitting in the bleachers listening to the guy talk. His second being a Pitman for Harold Mueller. It was like he found more brothers. He never enjoyed anything more.
He is survived by his sister, June Lilyquist; his brother, Jack (John) Lemmage; and his sister-in-law, Roberta Lemmage. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Mamie; his brothers, Omar, Ken (Dale), Gerald (Jerry), Ivar; and his sister, Goldie. He was also preceded in death by his best friend and fishing buddy, Gordon Lilyquist, also his McDonalds coffee-drinking buddies, and the Friday-afternoon card players.
The family would like to send a Heartfelt thank you to some very special people. Thank you, Phil Prusak, your constant visits and the ice cream cones and bird suet packs just lighted up Dad's days and made him so happy. Thank you so much to his thoughtful and kind caregivers, Connie and Amanda. He always looked forward to your coming. Thank you, Jody, for wanting to take care of Dad until the end. Thank you to Michael, your opting to stay with Gramps to the end was invaluable and so needed. Your Gramps loved you. One last thank you to Dad's friend, Dr. Sal O'Baid, who like my Dad, is one of a kind.
If you're wondering why Harpo? He got his nickname from the banker in Rockford, Minnesota, where he grew up. When he was three, he had long curly blond hair, and the banker started calling Dad Harpo because he looked like Harpo Marx. The name lasted for 93 years.
Memorial services for Harpo have been POSTPONED until further notice due to the current Covid-19 situation.
Lenmark-Gomsrud-Lind Funeral & Creamation Services, Eau Claire, is serving the family. To express condolences online, please visit obituaries at www.lenmarkfh.com.
Obit from thedrummer.com
He was married to the love of his life, Verdell, who passed 10 years ago. For over 60 years, he signed every card he gave her, "You are my everything."
He left behind three children, Pixie (Patricia), the boy, Hal, and the youngest, Jody. Three grandchildren, Kimberly Schlewitz and her husband, Sam, Christ (Christopher), and Michael. Papa also left three great-grandchildren, Diontrey and Zaydion Abley, also Kahlia Verdell Schlewitz.
His grandchildren have wonderful memories of Grandpa. Kim remembers going to Grandma's and Grandpa's after school. She'd head for the garage to say "Hi" to Grandpa. He'd always asked if she learned anything, she'd say "no," and Grandpa would say, "Then you have to go back tomorrow." Christ remembers his Grandpa was the best Dumpster Diver ever, and he could always see Grandpa's feet sticking out the top. He always made something good out of the parts he found. Michael said the best times of his life were at Gramp's and Gram Cracker's, riding the little three-wheeler and digging holes as deep as he was tall!
The great-grandchildren remember Papa with laughs. Diontrey was about three and was playing in the sandbox when he found a pair of Monster teeth! Actually, they were Papa's. That summer, Dad had lost four pairs of false teeth when they dropped out of his pockets. Zaydion was riding one of Papa's "dumpster bikes," he ran into a tree. Bees came out, and when he tried to bike away, the bike wouldn't move. Kahlia always loved when Papa would visit her and bring her a Balloon and have Tea Parties!
Dad and his brother, Dale, had a milk-hauling business when they were young.
Dad couldn't join the Army in WW ll because of a horribly broken leg in a trucking accident, which put him in the hospital for a year. The Army wouldn't take him because of his leg injury, so to help in the War effort, he headed for Hawaii where he fixed airplanes. He then started Harpo's Garage in downtown Rockford, Minnesota. Later, he worked for Sam Bloom; he said he learned more from Sam than any other man. Then, he worked for International Harvester. They transferred him to Eau Claire, Wisconsin in 1963. He worked for them for six weeks in Eau Claire and made friends he's had for almost 60 years. We were ready to head home to Rockford when he was offered a job running the American Materials Garage, and he took it. He retired at 57. He started work again a few years later delivering trucks. When he was 88 years old, he retired for good!
Two of my Dad's favorite hobbies were playing baseball for the Rockford Team. I spent many evenings down at the ball field watching practice and sitting in the bleachers listening to the guy talk. His second being a Pitman for Harold Mueller. It was like he found more brothers. He never enjoyed anything more.
He is survived by his sister, June Lilyquist; his brother, Jack (John) Lemmage; and his sister-in-law, Roberta Lemmage. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Mamie; his brothers, Omar, Ken (Dale), Gerald (Jerry), Ivar; and his sister, Goldie. He was also preceded in death by his best friend and fishing buddy, Gordon Lilyquist, also his McDonalds coffee-drinking buddies, and the Friday-afternoon card players.
The family would like to send a Heartfelt thank you to some very special people. Thank you, Phil Prusak, your constant visits and the ice cream cones and bird suet packs just lighted up Dad's days and made him so happy. Thank you so much to his thoughtful and kind caregivers, Connie and Amanda. He always looked forward to your coming. Thank you, Jody, for wanting to take care of Dad until the end. Thank you to Michael, your opting to stay with Gramps to the end was invaluable and so needed. Your Gramps loved you. One last thank you to Dad's friend, Dr. Sal O'Baid, who like my Dad, is one of a kind.
If you're wondering why Harpo? He got his nickname from the banker in Rockford, Minnesota, where he grew up. When he was three, he had long curly blond hair, and the banker started calling Dad Harpo because he looked like Harpo Marx. The name lasted for 93 years.
Memorial services for Harpo have been POSTPONED until further notice due to the current Covid-19 situation.
Lenmark-Gomsrud-Lind Funeral & Creamation Services, Eau Claire, is serving the family. To express condolences online, please visit obituaries at www.lenmarkfh.com.
Obit from thedrummer.com
One of the proudest Viking Fans, Harpo (Darvis S.) Lemmage left us on March 11, 2020. We lost the best Dad, Grandpa, and PaPa ever. He had said many times that he had a happy, long life. Dad was 96 years old.
He was married to the love of his life, Verdell, who passed 10 years ago. For over 60 years, he signed every card he gave her, "You are my everything."
He left behind three children, Pixie (Patricia), the boy, Hal, and the youngest, Jody. Three grandchildren, Kimberly Schlewitz and her husband, Sam, Christ (Christopher), and Michael. Papa also left three great-grandchildren, Diontrey and Zaydion Abley, also Kahlia Verdell Schlewitz.
His grandchildren have wonderful memories of Grandpa. Kim remembers going to Grandma's and Grandpa's after school. She'd head for the garage to say "Hi" to Grandpa. He'd always asked if she learned anything, she'd say "no," and Grandpa would say, "Then you have to go back tomorrow." Christ remembers his Grandpa was the best Dumpster Diver ever, and he could always see Grandpa's feet sticking out the top. He always made something good out of the parts he found. Michael said the best times of his life were at Gramp's and Gram Cracker's, riding the little three-wheeler and digging holes as deep as he was tall!
The great-grandchildren remember Papa with laughs. Diontrey was about three and was playing in the sandbox when he found a pair of Monster teeth! Actually, they were Papa's. That summer, Dad had lost four pairs of false teeth when they dropped out of his pockets. Zaydion was riding one of Papa's "dumpster bikes," he ran into a tree. Bees came out, and when he tried to bike away, the bike wouldn't move. Kahlia always loved when Papa would visit her and bring her a Balloon and have Tea Parties!
Dad and his brother, Dale, had a milk-hauling business when they were young.
Dad couldn't join the Army in WW ll because of a horribly broken leg in a trucking accident, which put him in the hospital for a year. The Army wouldn't take him because of his leg injury, so to help in the War effort, he headed for Hawaii where he fixed airplanes. He then started Harpo's Garage in downtown Rockford, Minnesota. Later, he worked for Sam Bloom; he said he learned more from Sam than any other man. Then, he worked for International Harvester. They transferred him to Eau Claire, Wisconsin in 1963. He worked for them for six weeks in Eau Claire and made friends he's had for almost 60 years. We were ready to head home to Rockford when he was offered a job running the American Materials Garage, and he took it. He retired at 57. He started work again a few years later delivering trucks. When he was 88 years old, he retired for good!
Two of my Dad's favorite hobbies were playing baseball for the Rockford Team. I spent many evenings down at the ball field watching practice and sitting in the bleachers listening to the guy talk. His second being a Pitman for Harold Mueller. It was like he found more brothers. He never enjoyed anything more.
He is survived by his sister, June Lilyquist; his brother, Jack (John) Lemmage; and his sister-in-law, Roberta Lemmage. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Mamie; his brothers, Omar, Ken (Dale), Gerald (Jerry), Ivar; and his sister, Goldie. He was also preceded in death by his best friend and fishing buddy, Gordon Lilyquist, also his McDonalds coffee-drinking buddies, and the Friday-afternoon card players.
The family would like to send a Heartfelt thank you to some very special people. Thank you, Phil Prusak, your constant visits and the ice cream cones and bird suet packs just lighted up Dad's days and made him so happy. Thank you so much to his thoughtful and kind caregivers, Connie and Amanda. He always looked forward to your coming. Thank you, Jody, for wanting to take care of Dad until the end. Thank you to Michael, your opting to stay with Gramps to the end was invaluable and so needed. Your Gramps loved you. One last thank you to Dad's friend, Dr. Sal O'Baid, who like my Dad, is one of a kind.
If you're wondering why Harpo? He got his nickname from the banker in Rockford, Minnesota, where he grew up. When he was three, he had long curly blond hair, and the banker started calling Dad Harpo because he looked like Harpo Marx. The name lasted for 93 years.
Memorial services for Harpo have been POSTPONED until further notice due to the current Covid-19 situation.
Lenmark-Gomsrud-Lind Funeral & Creamation Services, Eau Claire, is serving the family. To express condolences online, please visit obituaries at www.lenmarkfh.com.
Obit from thedrummer.com
He was married to the love of his life, Verdell, who passed 10 years ago. For over 60 years, he signed every card he gave her, "You are my everything."
He left behind three children, Pixie (Patricia), the boy, Hal, and the youngest, Jody. Three grandchildren, Kimberly Schlewitz and her husband, Sam, Christ (Christopher), and Michael. Papa also left three great-grandchildren, Diontrey and Zaydion Abley, also Kahlia Verdell Schlewitz.
His grandchildren have wonderful memories of Grandpa. Kim remembers going to Grandma's and Grandpa's after school. She'd head for the garage to say "Hi" to Grandpa. He'd always asked if she learned anything, she'd say "no," and Grandpa would say, "Then you have to go back tomorrow." Christ remembers his Grandpa was the best Dumpster Diver ever, and he could always see Grandpa's feet sticking out the top. He always made something good out of the parts he found. Michael said the best times of his life were at Gramp's and Gram Cracker's, riding the little three-wheeler and digging holes as deep as he was tall!
The great-grandchildren remember Papa with laughs. Diontrey was about three and was playing in the sandbox when he found a pair of Monster teeth! Actually, they were Papa's. That summer, Dad had lost four pairs of false teeth when they dropped out of his pockets. Zaydion was riding one of Papa's "dumpster bikes," he ran into a tree. Bees came out, and when he tried to bike away, the bike wouldn't move. Kahlia always loved when Papa would visit her and bring her a Balloon and have Tea Parties!
Dad and his brother, Dale, had a milk-hauling business when they were young.
Dad couldn't join the Army in WW ll because of a horribly broken leg in a trucking accident, which put him in the hospital for a year. The Army wouldn't take him because of his leg injury, so to help in the War effort, he headed for Hawaii where he fixed airplanes. He then started Harpo's Garage in downtown Rockford, Minnesota. Later, he worked for Sam Bloom; he said he learned more from Sam than any other man. Then, he worked for International Harvester. They transferred him to Eau Claire, Wisconsin in 1963. He worked for them for six weeks in Eau Claire and made friends he's had for almost 60 years. We were ready to head home to Rockford when he was offered a job running the American Materials Garage, and he took it. He retired at 57. He started work again a few years later delivering trucks. When he was 88 years old, he retired for good!
Two of my Dad's favorite hobbies were playing baseball for the Rockford Team. I spent many evenings down at the ball field watching practice and sitting in the bleachers listening to the guy talk. His second being a Pitman for Harold Mueller. It was like he found more brothers. He never enjoyed anything more.
He is survived by his sister, June Lilyquist; his brother, Jack (John) Lemmage; and his sister-in-law, Roberta Lemmage. He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Mamie; his brothers, Omar, Ken (Dale), Gerald (Jerry), Ivar; and his sister, Goldie. He was also preceded in death by his best friend and fishing buddy, Gordon Lilyquist, also his McDonalds coffee-drinking buddies, and the Friday-afternoon card players.
The family would like to send a Heartfelt thank you to some very special people. Thank you, Phil Prusak, your constant visits and the ice cream cones and bird suet packs just lighted up Dad's days and made him so happy. Thank you so much to his thoughtful and kind caregivers, Connie and Amanda. He always looked forward to your coming. Thank you, Jody, for wanting to take care of Dad until the end. Thank you to Michael, your opting to stay with Gramps to the end was invaluable and so needed. Your Gramps loved you. One last thank you to Dad's friend, Dr. Sal O'Baid, who like my Dad, is one of a kind.
If you're wondering why Harpo? He got his nickname from the banker in Rockford, Minnesota, where he grew up. When he was three, he had long curly blond hair, and the banker started calling Dad Harpo because he looked like Harpo Marx. The name lasted for 93 years.
Memorial services for Harpo have been POSTPONED until further notice due to the current Covid-19 situation.
Lenmark-Gomsrud-Lind Funeral & Creamation Services, Eau Claire, is serving the family. To express condolences online, please visit obituaries at www.lenmarkfh.com.
Obit from thedrummer.com
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