Henry “Hank” Jaeger, age 93, of Bird Island,  went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Tuesday, November 12, at Prairie View of Hector. Funeral services are Monday, November 18, at 11 a.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Bird Island with Rev. Mandy France officiating. Burial is in the Bird Island City Cemetery. Visitation is Sunday, November 17th from 5-7 p.m. at the church in Bird Island and will continue for one hour prior to the service on Monday.  Arrangements are by Dirks-Blem Funeral Service, Olivia, MN.

Henry Jaeger was born March 20, 1926, to David and Sophie (Christ) Jaeger in Chicago, Illinois.  The family then moved to Rib Lake, Wisconsin, and eventually settled in and around Gaylord, Minnesota.  Henry was confirmed on March 17, 1940, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Gaylord.  He graduated from Mountville Parochial School in 1941, and farmed with his family.  Eventually he accepted a job in Chicago assembling farm equipment.  While there, he went to refrigeration school.  Shortly thereafter, he enlisted in the United States Army on October 11, 1948, where he did two tours of duty in Korea.  He was honorably discharged from the Army on August 4, 1952.  He met Helen Marie Bjokne and they were united in marriage in June of 1953.  They made their home in Gaylord and built their first house.  He worked for Northern States Power Company as a meter reader.  In 1955, they moved to Montevideo, where he continued to work for Northern States Power Company and became an appliance repair man.  He built their second home in Montevideo.  In 1965, Henry and family moved to Bird Island where he continued to work for NSP as an appliance repairman.  Eventually he started his own appliance repair business called Hank’s Refrigeration.  He also joined with Marv Stevens and they formed a business together named Hank and Marv’s Appliance Sales and Service.  In 1983, Henry and Helen moved to California.  He was an assistant superintendent building the Amphitheater in Orange County.  When the project was completed, he pursued his career with Anderson Air Conditioning.  In 1990, they moved back to Bird Island where they built their third house.  He was semi-retired for the next 20 years doing appliance repair.  Henry had many hobbies, including singing in the Music Makers Barbershop Quartet and the Montevideo Barbershop Chorus.  He also enjoyed camping with family and built his first pop-up camper. He loved woodworking and cooking on the grill.  He enjoyed singing and teaching the grandchildren new songs and playing and singing for the residents at nursing homes.

Hank is survived by his three children and their spouses: David (and Pat) Jaeger of Cambridge, Brenda (and Doug) Erickson of Bird Island, and Daryl (and Andrea) Jaeger of Lakewood, CA; his seven grandchildren: David (and Grace) Jaeger, Paul Jaeger, Rachelle (and Paul) Morken, Brad Erickson, Jacob Erickson, Francine (and Matt) Garvin and Farrah Jaeger; and his three great-grandchildren: Sophia Morken, Julian Morken, and Aleah Lippert. Hank was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Helen and four brothers and three sisters.

Blessed Be His Memory