MUNISING - Harold Gottfrid Baij, age 79, of 309 E. Onota Street, Munising, died at his home following a six week illness under the care of Northwoods Hospice on Sunday, July 10, 2005 at 7:10 p.m. He was born on November 18, 1925 in Munising to Gottfrid and Anna (Olson) Baij. Harold graduated from Mather High School in 1943. He served in the U.S. Army during WWII from January 25, 1944 until May 1, 1946. Harold served in the European African Middle Eastern Theater. He participated in campaigns and battles at Rhineland and Central Europe, and earned the Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Service Medal, and the EAME Theater Service Medal. Harold earned his Bachelor's of Arts Degree from Northern Michigan University in 1951. On August 1, 1959, he married Violet W. McLaughlin. Harold was employed at Kimberly Clark for thirty-five years and retired in January of 1987. He was a member of the Eden Lutheran Church and was very involved in the construction of Eden on the Bay. Harold was an avid Green Bay Packer fan and a skilled photographer. He and Vi enjoyed traveling and visited every state except Alaska. They escaped the snow of fifteen U.P. winters in Tuscon, Arizona and enjoyed their summers at their cottage on Joe's Lake.

Harold is survived by his wife of over forty-five years - Violet Baij of Munising; their son - Paul (Kathy) Baij of Munising; their daughter - Christine "Tina" Gardner of Glendale, AZ; four grandchildren - Jason Bonneville, Zach, Molly, and Anna Baij; two great-granddaughters; a brother - Austin (Evelyn) Baij; and numerous nieces and nephews. Harold was preceded in death by his parents, a son Mark Charles Baij in 1962, and sisters Ruth Ann Baij and Ethel Baij Hoffins.

Friends may call at the Bowerman Funeral Home on Thursday evening from 5:00 until 8:00 p.m. The Grand Island Masonic Lodge will conduct a Masonic Service at 7:00 p.m. in the funeral home's chapel. Rev. Calvin Fahrion will conduct Harold's funeral service at the Eden Lutheran Church on Friday, July 15, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be at the Maple Grove Cemetery where the Alger County Veterans Council and Honor Guard will conduct military honors.