Henry Streifel

Funeral services were held Friday, Feb. 5, 2010, at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Esmond, for Henry “Hank” Streifel, 80, of Grand Forks, formerly of Esmond, who died Monday, Feb. 1, 2010, at Altru Hospital in Grand Forks.

Burial will be in the church cemetery in the spring.

Hank was born Nov. 23, 1929, at Esmond, a son of Rochus and Elizabeth (Wolfe) Streifel. He graduated from Esmond High School and attended Minot State College. He married Delores E. Heilman on Feb. 5, 1951, in Esmond. He worked for Great Northern Railroad from 1949 to 1956, as a signalman and foreman in Minot, Duluth, and the Iron Range in Minnesota. He incorporated the Esmond Implement Co. with his father-in-law in 1956, and operated the business until retiring in 2002. He also worked at the Esmond Cafe during the late 1990’s and early 2000. After moving to Grand Forks, he worked at Daydreams Specialties from 2003 until the time of his death.

He was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church, Holy Family Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, Elks, Lions, Eagles and the Buffalo Lake Sportsman Club. He served on the Esmond School Board, Esmond Community Board, Benson County Housing Authority, Esmond Development Corporation and Esmond City Council.

He is survived by his children: Susan Kraft, Barbara Graham, and Jola Streifel, all of Grand Forks, Jeff of Bemidji, Minn., Cy of Bismarck, Idona Holbrook of Excelsior, Minn., and Carole Smith of Burke, Va.; 13 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; siblings: Leonard of Brighton, Colo., Delores Mitzel of Esmond, Irene Streifel of Jamestown, James of Athens, Texas, and Rueben of Spokane, Wash.; special friends: Dawn Zimney and Joanne Wilson, both of Grand Forks; and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife; son, Tim; great-grandson, Beau; brothers: Ralph and Elmer; sisters: Agnes and Barbara; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Conrad and Johanna (Wack) Heilman; four brothers-in-law; two sisters-in-law; and a niece.

Fr. Julian Kupisz officiated.

Casketbearers were Jared Kraft, Chad Kraft, Jesse Graham, David King, Corey Olson, Dallas Schmidt and Rod Schnebli.

Arrangements by Nelson Funeral Home, Maddock.