Harlan T. Bakken

Harlan T. Bakken, age 78, of Waukon, Iowa, died Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at Thornton Manor Nursing Center in Lansing, IA after a long battle with cancer, at age 78. Harlan’s wish was to donate his body to the Mayo Clinic Department of Anatomy in Rochester, MN, for medical education and research. Memorial Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, May 15, 2017 at Decorah Lutheran Church with Rev. David Sorenson officiating. Visitation will begin at 1:00 p.m. Monday, May 15, one hour before the service, at Decorah Lutheran Church. Harlan Trytten Bakken was born March 6, 1938 in Ridgeway, IA, to Lloyd and Edna (Trytten) Bakken. He attended Ridgeway Schools, Luther College, and Iowa State University. In 1966, he married Doris Schnuelle of Waukon. To that union, two children were born, Michelle and (Michael) Christian. Throughout his adult life, Harlan sold insurance, refereed sports events, taught Sunday school, and most recently enjoyed working for the AARP/RSVP tax program. He took pride in receiving a volunteer commendation from President Obama thanking him for his many hours of service. One of Harlan's main passions was polka music. In 1988, he met Dana Waters of Waukon, and they spent the next 28 years together. As members of the Skyliners Polka Club, Harlan and Dana travelled to (and loved to dance in) polka festivals. They took many trips to Denver, Colorado to see his children and to Montana to Dana’s family. He also liked to tinker with cars and mowers. He was preceded by his parents. Harlan is survived by his long-term partner, Dana Waters of Waukon; his daughter, Michelle Bakken of Denver, CO; his son Christian, and grandson Mason, of Denver, Colorado, and his two sisters Andrea (Wendell) James of Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Leanne (Jerry) Upward of Rockton, Illinois. Other survivors include Dana’s family: Tracy and Chris Waters of Belfry, Montana, Robert and Peggy Woodbeck of Waukon, Iowa, Tim and Sarah Waters of Waukon, Jason and Tina Waters of Farmersburg, Iowa, Jaime and Jessie Waters of Waukon, Scott and Traci Waters of West Salem, Wisconsin, 14 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to a charity of choice.