Harvey Frank Fiala, 95

Published 10:55 am Friday, November 15, 2013

Harvey Frank Fiala, 95, of Austin, Minn., died Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2013, at the Cedars of Austin after a short illness.

Fiala

Harvey was born in Chicago, Ill., on April 3, 1918, to Frank and Barbara (Kalivoda) Fiala and moved to Austin at age 2. He graduated from Austin High School in 1936, and attended the University of Minnesota. Harvey married Belva Koplin of Rochester, Minn., at the Little Brown Church in 1940. When WWII began, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served for more than three years in the South Pacific, from Guadalcanal to Okinawa.

Harvey worked for the U.S. Postal Service for more than 30 years, retiring as the assistant postmaster. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Elks club. Harvey played tournament bridge and enjoyed square dancing. Although he loved playing golf, bowling and going to Lake Pepin, his greatest joy were his two children, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren and entertaining them.

Harvey was preceded in death by his parents.

Harvey is survived by his wife of 73 years, Belva Fiala, of Austin; daughter, Kim (Ron) Mace, of Austin; son, Brett (Renee) Fiala, of Mondovi, Wis.; grandchildren, Melissa (Brett) Hussey, Danielle (Jesse) Bertrang, Derek Fiala and Megan (Brent) Wilde; great-grandchildren, Alexis and Britten.

Funeral services will be held at noon on Saturday, Nov. 16, at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Marilee A. Benson officiating.  Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery with Austin Post 91 American Legion and Olaf B. Damm Post 1216 VFW in charge of military rites.  Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary, and at the church from 11 a.m. until the service on Saturday.