Don William (Bill) Harreld, 84,  died at home surrounded by family on January 26, 2016. A long-time Rochester resident, Bill was born on May 11, 1931 on a family farm in Marion Township, Cherokee County, Iowa, the eldest of 9 children born to Don and Harriet Harreld. The family moved to a farm in Rock Dell in the 1940s. Bill graduated from Stewartville High School in 1948. He served aboard the USS Pickaway during the Korean War.

In 1957, Bill went on a blind date with the woman of his dreams. He married Eileen Thornton in October of that year. Bill dearly loved and was dedicated to Eileen and their eight children. A career with IBM ensured that the Harrelds would develop into a close-knit family as they moved first to New York and then to Paris, France for several years in the 1970s. The family returned to Rochester in 1975. After he retired from IBM in 1991, Bill founded the consulting firm, Quality Culture Institute. Bill was active in the community and never tired of volunteering his time to help others. Bill was truly a generous man. Everyone who knew him felt his enthusiasm for life. More than anything else, Bill loved spending time and having fun with his family.

Bill is survived by Eileen, his wife of nearly 60 years, and by his children Donald J. (Suzette) Harreld of Spanish Fork, UT; Elizabeth A. (Thomas) Cousins of Eagan; Thomas V. (Lisa) Harreld of Livingston, MT; Mary F. (Gary) Etherton of Owatonna; Jack (Julie) Harreld of Woodbury; Harriet S (Ashish) Kumar of Cincinnati, OH; and Marie C. (Richard) Segar of Eagan. Bill is preceded in death by his daughter Melissa M. Wilkin. Bill and Eileen have 19 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

A funeral Mass will be at 11:00AM on Saturday, January 30, 2016 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church with Rev. Mark McNea officiating.  A visitation will be from 5:00-8:00PM on Friday, January 29th in River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home and also one hour prior to the Mass at the church on Saturday.  Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Rochester.

Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com