Harold David Naatz, 83

Harold David Naatz, age 83, of Austin, MN, passed away on Saturday, August 31, 2024, in Austin, with his wife sitting by his bedside, in the care of St. Marks nursing home with the St. Croix hospice, following a silent heart attack that depleted his body, quickly. He had previously survived two bouts of AML Leukemia 2004-2006 and E Coli (food poisoning) total organ failure in 2020.

Harold was born on December 11, 1940, at home in Marion/Rochester, MN to Harry Emil and Mary (Poffenberger) Naatz. The family later moved to Lansing, MN, and he graduated from Austin High School in 1958. He joined the Air Force in December 1959. He was stationed in Misawa, Japan and Duluth AFB, Duluth, MN, as an Aircraft mechanic until he was honorably discharged in 1963. He and his wife, Janet Ceaglske-Wells, married on December 29, 1962, at Wesley Methodist church, Duluth, MN. In 1963 they moved to St. Paul, MN where he worked at a Holiday service station and later the American Hoist and Derrick. Their children were born in St. Paul, MN. The family moved to Austin, MN in 1967 where Harold worked for a short time with the MN highway department in Albert Lea, in Austin for Martin Bustad, the Milwaukee Railroad and the Hormel Company until his retirement in 2004. In the 1970’s he worked at the Steer Skelly station, part-time. During the Hormel lay off, he attended Austin Vo-tech for welding and worked for Metal Services in Blooming Prairie. He rejoined the Air Force Reserve in 1985 and was trained as a Firefighter for the 934th Air Lift Wing, Mpls., MN until he retired in December 2000. He drove stock cars for a couple of years and won two trophies. He also enjoyed skiing, camping, canoeing and his Gold Wing motorcycle riding across the country to visit family and friends. He was a member of the VFW, American Legion and Crane Chapel.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Janet L. Naatz, Austin, MN; one son: Gregory A. Naatz, Chugiak, Alaska, one daughter, Tamra A. Naatz, Austin, MN; three grandchildren, Wesley, Meghan, and Derek, one great-grandson, Ellis; three sisters: Janice Belshan, Menahga, MN, Donna Bates, Parker, AZ, Pamela (Loren-Butch) Krahn, Rochester, MN and one half-brother: Harry/Butch (Nancy) Naatz, Mantorville, MN. Nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his father, Harry, mother, Mary, stepmother, Agnes; two half-sisters: Adeline and Caroline and half-brother, Kenneth and their spouses.

He donated his body to Mayo research and his ashes will be interned at the Preston Veterans cemetery later. No services are planned.