Harry Tech, age 95, passed away peacefully on May 22, 2021, surrounded by family in Oakes, North Dakota.
Harry was born February 16, 1926 in the town of Lebanon, Waupaca County, to Christian and Charlotte (Gerndt) Tech. He attended Emanuel Lutheran School and then New London High School, graduating in 1944. Following high school, he farmed the home place and married his sweetheart, Shirley Matz, on June 10, 1950 in New London. Harry was the Lebanon township assessor for a few years and also had a milk route, picking up milk in cans from area farmers and hauling them to town to Bordens and Your Dairy. In 1962, they sold the farm and Harry built a house for his little family on “mortgage hill” on New London’s southern edge. He had numerous jobs after that, many of them with area home builders, such as Utschig Constr, Ziegler/Kaphingst Constr, Timm Bros Constr, Red Suprise Builders, and Morien Constr. Harry was also the custodian at Emanuel Lutheran School and Church for several years. He assisted at Borchardt & Moder Funeral Home and sold furniture at their store. In 1964, he passed his licensing tests to write life insurance and that was the birth of Tech Insurance Agency, which remained family owned and operated for the next 55 years. His wife, Shirley, and his children would join the agency in years to come. Harry and Shirley enjoyed dancing and traveled to Europe with their polka dance club, almost not making it back when their plane had to dump its fuel and make an emergency landing in Greenland because of landing gear issues. In 1987, they bought a 36’ motor home and began wintering in Florida and then spending 28 winters in Arizona, where he continued his woodworking hobby. After Shirley passed away in 2000, Harry met and married Marcellyn Erlandson in 2002 and relocated to Oakes, ND, where he began working in the fields with his step-son, Tim. He loved operating the large farm machinery until his eyesight was too poor to drive any longer. Harry loved to sing and whistle! He sang in church choir, and for many weddings and even some baptisms. He loved to play board games and card games. He always had a joke or funny story to tell. Harry could strike up a conversation with anyone and never met a stranger.
Harry is survived by his wife, Marcellyn, North Dakota; his daughter, Marsha (Bruce) Davis, New London, their daughters, Adrianne (Kyle) Majorowicz, Oshkosh, and Arica (Anthony) Brooks, New London; and his son, Chris (Debbie) Tech, Manawa and their children, Sara (Brandon) Suehs, Manawa, Carrie Meidam (fiancé Jeramie Knuth), Manawa, Benjamin- US Navy, stationed in San Diego (Megan) Tech, Waupaca, and numerous great-grandchildren; his brother, Harold (Thelma) Tech, Seymour and many nieces and nephews; step-children, Shanda (Robert) Staloch, Mike (Pam) Erlandson, and Tim (Barb) Erlandson, all of North Dakota. Harry also leaves behind many relatives and friends in WI, ND, MN, and AZ. Harry was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Shirley; infant daughter in 1961; sisters and their husbands, Marie (Elmer) Kusserow and Ilene (Eldor) Volz; parents-in-law, Alfred and Marie (Thompson) Matz; brother-in-law, and his wife, Robert (Eilleen) Matz and a grandson-in-law, Justin Meidam.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Emanuel Lutheran Church, New London. Visitation and fellowship will be at the church from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service. Harry’s cremains will be buried at Emanuel Lutheran Cemetery following the service. In lieu of flowers, please consider a monetary contribution to Emanuel Lutheran School or the church remodeling campaign. Cline & Hanson Funeral Home in New London is serving the family.