Harold O. Droegmiller

Harold O. Droegmiller, age 81, of Holstein, passed away on Sunday, August 23, 2026 at the Good Samaritan Society of Holstein. A funeral service will be held on Friday, August 28, 2026 at 10:30 A.M. at the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church of Holstein with the Vicar Emily Anderson officiating. A visitation will be held on Thursday, August 27, 2026 from 5:00 P.M. to 7:30 P.M. with a prayer service starting at 7:30 P.M. at the Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home of Holstein. Burial will be at the Holstein Cemetery of Holstein.

Harold Orrin Droegmiller was born on September 13, 1944, to Harvey and Erma (Sorensen) Droegmiller of Holstein, Iowa. He grew up on a farm north of Holstein with his brother Veryl and sister Janet, and he spent a lot of time with his cousins Dennis and Curtis Sorensen of Holstein. Harold attended Holstein Community Schools, graduating in 1962. While in school, he was involved in choir and band. After graduation he attended Iowa State University in the Farm Operations program, graduating in two years. Following graduation, Harold returned home and began farming with his brother and father on the family farm.

On May 1, 1966, he married Diane Volkert of Correctionville, Iowa, and they made their home on the farm they occupied north of Holstein. Harold was in the National Guard and was activated with the 133 Guard group in 1968. He was stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, Colorado, where Diane later joined him. The friends they made there became family and have endured for their lifetime. They welcomed a daughter, Denise Renee on March 25, 1969. After the group was discharged, Harold and family returned to the farm. They welcomed their second daughter Michele Rhea (Shelly) on May 22, 1972. The family were members of St. Paul Lutheran church of Holstein.

Harold was active in the church and served on the council and in the church choir for many years. He was also a former president of the congregation. Harold raised many pigs and cattle and was active in the Cherokee County Pork Producers. Harold enjoyed traveling. The family took trips to Keystone, Colorado, to snow ski and Spirit Lake, Iowa where he enjoyed boating and skiing, making many memorable trips with his brother-in-law David and Melvina Volkert. Harold and Diane retired in 2010 and moved to their home in Holstein. He enjoyed following his grandchildren’s sporting events for Ridge View, OABCIG, and Morningside and was often found at the field or court.

Harold also enjoyed his John Deere tractors and had a 3020 and refinished an unstyled John Deere A . He joined in parades and tractor rides in the area. Harold also enjoyed his neighbors and his Washta coffee groups, many card clubs, and many groups of friends for holidays and events. He enjoyed traveling with his guard group and had memorial trips to the Minnesota cabin, Hawaii, Washington DC, the Caribbean, and Florida. He was known for his quips, quick humor and witty comebacks. He enjoyed Pioneer Seed, black cattle, the Iowa State Cyclones, Iowa Hawkeyes, and Morningside Mustangs. He was grateful for the wonderful care he received at Good Samaritan Nursing Home in Holstein for the last three and a half years.

Harold was preceded in death by his parents and grandson, Jonathan Pickhinke; cousins Dennis and Diane Sorensen, Curtis Sorensen and father-in-law Marvin Volkert.

He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Diane, daughters Denise (Lynn) Pickhinke of Nemaha, Iowa, and Shelly (Jeff) Spotts of Ida Grove; Grandchildren Elizabeth (Jacob) Kliegl of Nemaha, Katie Pickhinke of Nemaha, Kyle, Kade and Kolt Spotts of Ida Grove; great-grandchildren Jonathan, Cecilia and Margaret Kliegl of Nemaha; his brother Veryl (Donna) Droegmiller of Holstein and sister Janet (TIm) Lohafer of Le Mars, Iowa; mother-in-law Alice Volkert of Correctionville and numerous inlaws, nieces, nephews, and friends.