Harley Duane Paschke

Harley Duane Paschke, 88, of Blue Earth, Minnesota, passed away on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at St. Luke’s Care Center. Harley was born on October 3, 1932 to Clarence and Gertrude (Prescott) Paschke and graduated from Blue Earth High School in 1950. He attended Westmar College in Iowa before coming back home to Blue Earth to farm and be part of the family businesses—Marna Elevator and Paschke Implement.

Harley loved the land. He grew up on a farm and continued caring for over 400 acres until retiring in 1984. He was passionate about agricultural progress all his life, and closely followed the evolution of tractors, harvesters and integrated combines. He took great satisfaction in precision planting, and you wouldn’t find a farm with straighter rows.  

On Halloween in 1956, he met the woman who’d steal his heart at the roller-skating rink. Harley and Doris Goetz of Ledyard, Iowa were married on July 26, 1957. They were blessed with three daughters, and spent many years showing Arabian horses around the Midwest. Harley and Doris spent their retirement in Arizona and Missouri before returning to Blue Earth to be closer to family. They passed many weekends at fairs and yard sales collecting antiques, particularly Redwing stoneware and depression glass. Harley was a devoted man of faith who believed strongly in clean living and an honest day’s work. He would often surprise people with his sneaky sense of humor, and his deep love for his girls and family was the absolute center of his life.

Harley Paschke enters God’s Eternal Kingdom lovingly remembered by Doris, his wife of 63 years; their three daughters: Dawn Paschke of Mankato; Tami (and Mike) Hoffman of Apple Valley; and Cindy (and Dan) Driscoll of Blue Earth; his brother Howard (and Mollie) Paschke of Blue Earth; his sister Carolyn (and Tom) Fairchild of Florence, AZ; six grandchildren: Rachael (and Tim) Mitchell of Jackson; Emily (and Jeff) Long of Chicago, IL; Dan (and Alecia) Driscoll of Fairmont, Mitchel (and Caitlin) Hoffman of Minneapolis; Camille Driscoll of Fairmont, and Matthew Hoffman of Minneapolis; as well as five great-grandchildren, Aliya, Adelyn, Owen and Oliver Mitchell, and Paisley Driscoll; and many nieces and nephews.

A public visitation will be held on Friday, April 9 from 4:00 – 7:00pm at Patton Funeral Home in Blue Earth. Face masks are required, and social distancing will be observed. Patton Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. A private celebration of life for Harley will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association.