James Harder
Age - 98
November 30, 2023
James Elmer Harder, 98, of Winner, SD passed away on Tuesday, November 28th, 2023 at the Winner Regional Long Term Care Center in Winner, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, December 5th, 2023 at 10:00AM at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner, SD. Burial will follow in the Winner City Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Monday, December 4th, 2023 from 6-7PM with a 7PM rosary at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Winner, SD. Jim was born on September 17th, 1925, the oldest of four boys, to Elmer & Sophia (Laur) Harder, in Tyler, Minnesota. His family moved to Burke, SD for several years, and then to Gregory, SD, when he was about five years old. Jim's father passed away when he was nine years old and he began helping support his family at an early age, by cleaning the bank, starting the furnace there, delivering newspapers, and lifeguarding & managing the Gregory City Pool while in high school. Jim was active in sports, playing basketball & football, & graduated from Gregory High School in 1943. After graduation Jim enlisted in the United States Coast Guard in 1943. He was assigned to an LST (Landing Ship Tanker), and headed overseas in March, 1944, making their first English Channel Crossing on D-Day, and then landing on Omaha, Utah, and Sword Beaches. His ship made 60 trips across the English Channel, carrying troops and tanks across, & bringing prisoners back. Jim's ship was called the "Lucky 27", as their anchor fouled on a trip, leaving another ship to take their place ahead of them. That ship hit a land mine, killing all sailors. He returned to the US in August 1945, and was stationed in Boston for 3 months before being honorably discharged on February 26, 1946. Jim then attended one year of college at South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD, and started working for the Rosebud Electric Cooperative in Gregory, SD, as their office manager in 1949, until his retirement in 1988. Jim met the love of his life, Gladys Graesser, at a dance in Dallas, SD, and they were married November 16th, 1948. To this union one daughter, Pam, was born. They made their home in Winner, SD, and he & Gladys spent many hours helping care for their grandsons, and following their ballgames & golf meets. They enjoyed golfing, playing partner pitch, & watching the MN Twins play. He & Gladys moved to the Golden Prairie Manor in Winner in 2015. Jim was a member of the Winner Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, the Dallas American Legion, and the Winner VFW. Grateful for having shared in his life is daughter Pam (Rich) Kolecka, Winner, SD, grandsons Mark Kolecka, Pierre, SD, and Chad Kolecka, Omaha, NE, sisters-in-law Jean Ann Harder, Rapid City, SD, Gladys Harder, Creighton, NE, and Shirley Harder, Newcastle, WY, and numerous nieces and nephews. Jim was preceded in death by his loving wife Gladys, of 73 years, and his brothers Jerry, Bill, & Tom Harder.Show more
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