Father Harpenau was born June
12, 1914, in Le Mars, the son of
Frank and Bernadine (Deters)
Harpenau. He was elevated to the
dignity of the Catholic priesthood
by the Most. Rev. Edmund Heelan,
bishop of Sioux City, at the
Cathedral of the Epiphany May 22,
1941. His first assignment was at
St. Mary's, Storm Lake, where he
was assistant to the pastor
beginning in June 1941.

He became pastor at Sioux
Rapids in 1947 and was there until
1952. He supervised the
construction of the new St.
Joseph's Church and rectory at
Sioux Rapids and was the first
resident pastor at the parish. At
Mallard, he supervised the
construction of St. Mary's Church,
where he was pastor from 1952-58.
From 1954 to 1972, he was
diocesan director of the Family Life
Bureau of the Sioux City diocese.
While director, he organized the
Pre-Cana program, the Cana
Program and the CFM program. He
also started under the Family Life
Bureau, the Natural Family
Planning Program and Marriage
Encounter Program. For 10 years,
he served as "promoter justitiate" of
the diocesan marriage tribunal. He
also served as chaplain for the
Knights of Columbus Council,
Morningside, for a number of years
and was a senator for two years on
the Priests' Senate, Sioux City
diocese.

At Templeton, he supervised the
construction of Sacred Heart Grade
School and gym during his
pastorate from 1958-66.

At Sioux City, he was pastor at
Nativity parish from 1966-79.
During that time, he supervised the
construction of the Nativity rectory,
parish center and the church. He
was the first pastor of the Nativity
parish.

At Holstein, he was pastor from
1979-87, when he retired. He then
moved to Storm Lake and, in
October 1989, moved to Le Mars.
Father Harpenau was a 3rd Degree
member of the Knights of
Columbus and a 4th Degre e
member of Garrigan Assembly,
Knights of Columbus.

He was preceded in death by his
parents; five brothers — John,
Henry, Joseph and Tony, and
Clarence (in infancy); and two
sisters — Evelyn (Mrs. Ed) Miller
and Regina (in infancy).

Survivors include three sisters —
Mary (Mrs. Anton) Kolbeck,
Humboldt, S.D.; Philomine (Mrs.
Joseph) Schwarz, Le Mars; and Rita
(Mrs. Marvin) Kolbeck, Le Mars;
two brothers — Isadora and Rita
Harpenau and Al and Shirley
Harpenau, all of Remsen; and many
nieces and nephews.