Harold Gray

Harold was born on February 21, 1920 to Stanley Joseph and Sallie Bridget Gray in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He met Mary Jane Grimm on March 10, 1942 while both were taking dancing lessons. Mary Jane asked Harold to dance. They were married on April 11, 1943; 1 year, 1 month and 1 day after they met. They danced together for 66 years and are now dancing together again in heaven. Harold passed on February 24, 2017 at the age of 97 years and 3 days. Services will be held at SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Blue Earth on Wednesday, March 1, 2017. Mass will begin at 11:00 with visitation from 9:30-11AM. Harold attended Dunwoody Institute in 1939 & 1940 for the electrician program. Harold enlisted in the US Army in 1942. He was in the Signal Corps during World War II. He was stationed in New Guinea, The Philippines and Japan. He always had many war stories to share. He loved the Philippine people and remembers walking around in Japan after the bombs were dropped and seeing the destruction. In 1946, they moved to Blue Earth to work with his uncle George and start his own electric motor and magneto repair shop. He loved to figure out how things worked and could fix anything. We sometimes called it his Polish touch.Harold & Mary Jane had a big garden and orchard which they loved. His six children didn''t love the weeding and picking those prickly cucumbers as much. Harold was a big fisherman. He loved to take his family to Lake Koronis, Nest Lake and Little Round Lake. He had a lot of patience with his kids in the boat and all the tangled fishing lines. He and Mary Jane spent many years going to their cabin on Duck Lake near Mankato. This cabin sheltered many family gatherings, water skiing and watermelons cooling in the lake.Best of all, Harold and Mary Jane were wonderful parents to six children whom they taught to be good people and do good things to help others. Harold is survived by his six children: Sallie (& Bob) Raleigh of Belle Plaine, Helen (& Stuart) of Le Sueur, Marge (& Gail) Anderson of Dolliver IA, Marianne (& Joel) Brenckman of Willmar, Richard (& Beth) Gray of Ocklawaha, FL and Jenny Gray (& friend Marvin) of Blue Earth. He is survived by 13 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.Preceded him is his wife, Mary Jane, his parents, his sister and many other relatives and friends. Harold, you were an amazing person. You will be greatly missed!Memorials preferred to United Hospital District Hospice or St. Luke''s Lutheran Care Center.Arrangements by Patton Funeral Home.