Harold 'Kid' Eugene Mclaughlin

Harold (Kid) Eugene McLaughlin, the son of Ray and Rose (Weighton) McLaughlin, was born May 22, 1924, at his parents’ home five miles northeast of Audubon, Iowa, and died April 13, 2013, at the Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa, at the age of 88 years, 10 months, and 21 days. Harold was baptized and confirmed at the First Presbyterian Church in Audubon. He started school at Luccock’s Grove County School (LeRoy #1). When Harold was in the fourth grade, the family moved one mile southwest of Gray after which his parents started Mac’s Dairy. The Dairy delivered milk house-to-house and to several businesses in Gray. Harold was a member of his local 4-H Club for ten years. He showed 4-H club calves at the Audubon County Fair, Ak-Sar-Ben, National Cattle Show (Denver, Colorado), and the International Cattle Show (Chicago, Illinois). Harold (Kid) loved sports and during his senior year of high school was selected to the First Team All-State Basketball team. Harold graduated from Gray High School in 1941 as the class salutatorian. Following high school, Harold attended the Commercial Extension Business School in Omaha, Nebraska. Harold then played on a semi-pro independent basketball team and was proud to have beaten the Harlem Globetrotters in a game played in Gray. On September 18, 1946, Harold was united in marriage to Charlene Yost at the Wesley Methodist Church Chapel in Des Moines, Iowa. The couple shared 66 years of marriage. Five children were born to this union: Michael, David, Mary, Connie, and Mark. Harold farmed in Audubon County for over 60 years. He was part owner of a thrashing machine which they operated in a neighborhood circuit. Kid helped build the Gray fast-pitch ball park, where he played and managed the team for many years. Harold drove a school bus for 20 years – first for Gray Consolidated Schools and then for Audubon Community Schools. Harold was employed as the Lincoln Township assessor for several years in Audubon County. From 1967 to 1989 Harold and Charlene made many life-long friends while working with the Archer Petroleum Corporation. Harold was named Big Chief Archer in 1967 after selling the most oil in a nine-state region. Harold started as Archer District Manager of West Central Iowa in 1970, a position he held until he retired in 1989. Harold also worked for many years on the ASCS (Agricultural Stabilization Conservation Service) County Committee. Harold and Charlene moved to their present home in Audubon in 1990. During his retirement years, Harold continued to serve the community. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Audubon where he served as a member of the board of trustees for nine years. He served as the Gray City Clerk for 18 years, and served on the Audubon Friendship Home board of directors for four years. Harold became a resident of the Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa, in December 2012. He was preceded in death by his parents. Harold is survived by his wife Charlene McLaughlin of Audubon, Iowa, and their five children; Michael and wife Cindy McLaughlin of Starkville, Mississippi, David and wife Donna McLaughlin of Omaha, Nebraska, Mary and husband Greg Lamka of Polk City, Iowa, Connie Nihsen of Omaha, Nebraska, and Mark and wife Teresa McLaughlin of Audubon. Harold had 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Karen and husband Ben Kardell of Mesa, Arizona; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon.

Visitation:
The family will meet with friends on Tuesday evening, April 16, 2013, at 6:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa.

Service:
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Jud Stover on Wednesday, April 17, 2013, at 2:00 P.M. at the First United Methodist Church in Audubon, Iowa.