Harold L. Messenbrink

Fort Leonard Wood, MO (1952); Fort Belvoir, VA (1953); Fort Lewis, WA (1953); Japan (1953); Korea (1953); Fort Sheridan, IL (1954)
  • Military specialty: Mechanical Engineer
  • Awards: Unknown

b. 8 Apr 1927; d. 16 Jul 2016. Harold Leonard Messenbrink was born to George and Anna (Grunewald) Messenbrink in Windom, MN. He graduated from Windom High School.

He was inducted into the U.S. Army in Nov 1952 and completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, and was then assigned to Fort Belvoir, VA, for ‘Mechanics School’.  Harold was subsequently transferred as a ‘Mechanical Engineer’ to Fort Lewis, WA, followed by a transfer to Japan and, ultimately, to Korea, where he served with the 54th Engineering Field Maintenance Company during the Korean War. Harold was discharged in Nov 1954 at Fort Sheridan, IL.

He married Theresa Ann Hardies in Jun 1955; they had three children.

Harold worked as a heavy equipment master mechanic for Caterpillar Ziegler and International Harvester companies in Minneapolis/St. Paul and Granite
Falls, MN. In 1969,  he took a management position for Moore International in Denver, Co.,  Within three years, the family moved to Wichita, KS, where Harold worked at Foley Caterpillar Co, and Berry Tractor Co.  In 1978, they moved to Spring, TX where Harold worked for International Harvester  Co. In 1982, he opened his own business, Southwest Texas Tree Service which he operated until his retirement in 2004.

 

  • Obituary: Yes