Obituary of Harold Eugene Tiedje

Harold Eugene Tiedje, 93, passed away February 3, 2013, at Park Centre in Newton, under the care of Park Centre Hospice. Funeral services for Harold are 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013, at the First Presbyterian Church in Newton, Rev. John Duling officiating. Pence - Reese Funeral Home in Newton, have been entrusted with the arrangements. The family will receive friends following the services, for a coffee time at the church. A private family burial will be held at Newton Union Cemetery. Memorials are being designated in Harold's name to, Jasper County Historical Society (1700-S. 15th Ave. W., Newton, IA 50208) or the Newton Community Education Foundation (NCEF, 700-N. 4th Ave., Newton, IA 50208). Harold, the son of Henry and Dora Ella (Iske) Tiedje, was born March 3, 1919, on the family farm northwest of Newton. He was a graduate of the Newton Senior High, Class of 1937. On Jan. 31, 1941, Harold was united in marriage with Winifred A. Wormley, on the Wormley farm north of Newton. Harold farmed for 46 years, most of those in Malaka Township, was an early adopter of conservation practices and served his rural community through leadership in schools, St. John's Church, 4-H and Farm Bureau. He and Winifred retired to Newton in 1983 and he pursued his hobby of woodworking. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder, trustee and deacon. He was a charter member of the Jasper County Historical Society and of the Jasper County Conservation Board as well as a Soil Conservation District Commissioner. He and Winifred were active in the Beyond War Movement and were host family to visitors from many foreign countries. Harold is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law: Jim and Linda Beth Tiedje of Lancing, MI and Rick and Margie Tiedje of Newton; daughter and son-in-law: Barb Tiedje and Dan Wexler of Madison, WI; his six grandchildren: Anne (Skip) Vendola of Jackson, I, Garth (Lori Decillis) Tiedje of Fairfield, CT, Meredith (Vince) Voisin of Atlanta, GA, Nick Tiedje of Newton, IA, Bill Tiedje of Fort Collins, CO and Emma Wexler of Madison, WI; six great-grandchildren: Kalea, Finn and Ainsley Vendola, Sophia and Elle Voisin, and Tycho Tiedje; sisters-in-law: Marjorie Singer of Iowa City, and Marge Tiedje and Ruth Wormley, both of Newton. Harold was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Winifred on Jan. 30, 2005; and his brothers: Lawrence, Donald (in infancy) and Kenneth (Max) Tiedje.