Peter M. Harren

Born to life June 30, 1922 in the Netherlands, joined his beloved wife, Marian in Eternal Life on August 24, 2014. Dear Dad of Peter (Barbara) Harren, Maria Anna (James) Fischbach, Margaret (Robert) Krolikowski, Louisa (Anthony) Havlik and Alice (William) Herbst. Loving Grandpa to Peter (Jessica), Marc, and Virginia Harren, Debbie, Paul (Heather), Mary (Eric Barr) and Sarah Fischbach, Julie (Cory) Hahnke, John (fiancée Heather Naumann) and Ryan (Cori Schimler) Krolikowski. David Havlik, Andrea (David) Stotesbery and Michael Havlik. Justin (Cassandra), Benjamin (Ariana) and Daniel (Taryn) Herbst. Proud great-grandpa of 11 great-grandchildren. Further survived by four sisters in the Netherlands, and many other dear friends and relatives.

After his retirement from Phil Tolkan Pontiac as Business manager, Peter was very active in his parish as a trustee, singing in the choir, and serving as a sacristan, lector, and acolyte into his nineties.

If desired, memorials to St. Margaret Mary Educational Trust Fund or Wheaton Franciscan St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation;ICU nurses, 5000 West Chambers Street, Milwaukee Wisconsin, 53210 appreciated.

Visitation at the Funeral Home, 9000 West Capitol Drive, Friday, August 29, 4:00-7:00 PM. Vigil 7:00 PM. Visitation also at ST. MARGARET MARY CATHOLIC CHURCH, 92nd and Capitol Drive, Saturday, August 30, 9:30-10:00 AM. Mass of Christian Burial 10:00 AM. Entombment Holy Cross.

Peter M. Harren

Peter was born on June 30, 1922, the sixth child of Hendrikus (Henk) and Anna Harren, the fifth living child. He had one older brother, Henk, and seven sisters. They all lived in a small row house in the Catholic section of Haarlem, the Netherlands. Peter went to Catholic schools, sang in a Catholic boys' choir and eventually played the clarinet in a Catholic band called the "Spaarnebazuin". He earned degrees in bookkeeping and business management, roughly equivalent to a bachelor's degree in accounting. He landed his first full-time office job at the age of 16 for Staalstruycken.

In September 1939, his life changed dramatically when World War 2 began. The Netherlands became a German occupied country. As the war progressed, the deprivations and genocide increased. Peter was too young initially for military service, but he joined the Dutch Underground and delivered messages and newsletters. Later he helped to write false letters or notes and even volunteered to carry a gun in case of need. He was thankful he never needed to actually shoot it. He had several near misses when German patrollers attempted to conscript young men into the German army. He and his family survived.

After the war, Peter met his wife Marian at a dance school that his sister Ann insisted he needed to attend as part of his upbringing. He courted her and on June 21, 1949, they were married. They were married for 54 years until her death in May of 2003. They raised 5 children, enjoyed 16 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. With the first four of their children, they emmigrated to Milwaukee, Wisconsin in November of 1956 with the support of the Catholic Relief Organization. They made the difficult adjustment of learning new language, customs and schools. Their fifth child was born in Wisconsin in 1959.

Throughout their married life, Peter and Marian modeled for their children a strong, loving, faithful, Catholic marriage. They were strict, but loving and supportive parents to Peter, Miriam, Margaret, Louisa and Alice. They contributed to their community with volunteer efforts. Peter was especially involved in St. Margaret Mary parish contributing his accounting and musical talents in various ministries. In his last years, Peter wrote an autobiography of his life, Our Family History that was completed and published in the spring of this year. Copies have been given to family members and will be distributed to his friends and church.

Peter went to heaven on August 24, 2014 at 12:15 AM to join his beloved wife Marian. He left a legacy of a faithful life devoted to God and family.