Edmund “Ed” Roman Harren

Edmund “Ed” Roman Harren, 90, of Freeport, died Oct. 22, 2022, at his home in Freeport,  surrounded by his family. A beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, son, uncle, cousin, friend and colleague, Ed was born March 27, 1932, in St. Francis, (rural Freeport, Stearns County) to John G. and Elizabeth (Gerads) Harren, the fourth of eight children.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 26, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport with the Rev. Daniel Walz officiating and the Rev. Robert Harren concelebrating. Interment will be at the parish cemetery with military honors by the Holdingford V.F.W. Visitation will be 10-11:30 a.m., Oct. 26, at the church.

Ed grew up in rural Freeport. As a young man, Ed worked in the harvest fields of North Dakota and as a farm hand. He was drafted in 1953 into the U.S. Army, during the Korean War. He was stationed in Panama and received an honorable discharge in 1955. He was married to Irene A. Herickhoff July 5, 1955, at the Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Elrosa. Ed worked at the creamery in Donnelly and worked to receive his grading, testing and boiler license. As a result, he became the assistant manager and butter maker. In 1964, Ed purchased the family farm from his parents and became a third generation owner. Over the years he was involved in the National Farmers Organization. For 23 years he served as a divisional board member for AMPI and 13 years as a regional director. He also served six years on the Minnesota Association of Co-ops through AMPI and attended national dairy meetings in Washington, D.C.

Ed served as a parish trustee at St. Francis parish for five years before retiring from farm life. In 1991, Ed and Irene moved to Freeport. For the next 15 years he was a full-time school bus driver for Williams Bus Service and three years as a substitute driver. He was a member of the St. Joseph Society at Sacred Heart Parish and was a lifetime member of the VFW and the Knights of Columbus.

Survivors include his children, Juleen (Ray) Scegura of Holdingford, John (Lois) of Freeport, Barry (Colleen) of Freeport, Gregg (Nancy) of Eagle Bend, David (Kathy) of Eagle Bend, Michael (Shelly) of Holdingford, and James (Cheryl) of Freeport; 23 grandchildren and 41 great-grandchildren; siblings Regina Hoeschen, Rita Schiller, Conrad Harren, Eugene (Connie) Harren, Marlene Herickhoff, Rita Walz, Dr. Bob (Pam) Herickhoff, Charles Herickhoff, James (Ruth) Herickhoff, Norma (Joe) Moening, Marie (Ken) Bezdicek, Mark (Donna) Herickhoff, Bernie (Linda) Herickhoff and Henry (Vicky) Herickhoff; and many nieces and nephews.

Ed was preceded in death by his wife, Irene, Oct. 21, 2021; son Bruce; granddaughter Mary; parents John and Elizabeth Harren; in-laws Ben and Anna Herickhoff; siblings Maggie (Harren Kraemer) Faber, Arnie Hoeschen, Harlan Schiller, Jeanette (Harren) and Sylvester Stueve, Larry and Betty Harren, Carol Harren, Harold Herickhoff, Lawrence Herickhoff, Harold Walz and Alfons and Lizzy Plate. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Sacred Heart Catholic School or Poor Clare’s Monastery.

Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral and Cremation Services of Freeport. P-43-1P