Harold Wilbert Foertsch Sr., of Har-Lo Farms, died at age 83 on Tuesday. This photograph of him was found by his family with the inscription, "Everyone should be outstanding in their field."

Harold W. Foertsch Sr., owner of Har-Lo Farms and a director for the Butler Farm Show for 37 years, died Tuesday at age 83.

Harold Sr. was a third-generation farmer, and, according to his children, he dabbled in a number of careers to make his dream of owning a farm a reality.

Harold Foertsch

“He worked for Pullman Standard, and American Bridge, building bridges,” said his son James Foertsch. “He was also a herdsman on a farm in Prospect when (my parents) were newly married. Then he bought our farm in 1966. He drove a school bus and worked at Armco to make payments on it.”

Har-Lo Farms on Jefferson Road is still family owned and operated. The name was derived from his name, Harold, and the name of his deceased wife, Lois. Potatoes, onions, corn, oats and wheat are just a fraction of what is grown on its 1,250 acres in Jefferson Township.

When it came to farming, to say Harold Sr. liked it was an understatement, said his daughter, Diana Lehnerd.

“He lived and breathed it,” she said.

His passion was expressed in an outpouring of service through his involvement with the Butler Farm Show as a director. A member of the livestock committee, organizer of tractor pulling events and a supporter of 4H, Harold Sr. went all in to make the event a success.

“The farm show was his vacation,” son Robert Foertsch said. “He would take his quad, and when people got stuck in the parking lot, he’d go pull them out.”

“He did a little of everything,” son Harold Foertsch Jr. said.

On the Butler Farm Show Facebook page, a tribute was paid to Harold Sr. and his many years with the event. As of Friday afternoon, over 100 people commented expressions of sympathy for the Foertsch family or shared memories of Harold Sr.

“They did such a good job,” Lehnerd said of the tribute. “The comments are all true. He was out to have a good time, out to talk, out to be around people.”

Aside from farming, Harold Sr.’s children said he enjoyed activities like snowmobiling and waterskiing with them. They said he will be remembered as a kind, generous giver.

“He helped all the neighbors when he could,” son William Foertsch said. “If someone asked a favor of him, he’d drop everything to do it.”

“He didn’t walk, he ran to whatever needed to be done,” Lehnerd said.

Harold Sr. is survived by his four sons and daughter, eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, four brothers, three sisters and extended family.

Lehnerd said a photograph was found of her father looking out over his land with the inscription “Everyone should be outstanding in their field.”

“And in the picture there he is, out standing in his field,” she said. “As a farmer, that’s what he was — outstanding in his field.”