Obituary: Harold Fahrendorff, 65, former Golden Valley Firefighter

Harold Fahrendorff found his calling as a firefighter late in life, at age 48. But as a third-generation firefighter—his father also worked at the Golden Valley Fire Department—it was in his blood. Fahrendorff died Saturday afternoon when the motorcycle he was riding crashed near Brainerd. He was 65.

Fahrendorff spent 12 years as a Golden Valley firefighter, and he was unhappy when he had to quit because of his health, said his wife, Linda. He quit, she said, because he didn't want to jeopardize anyone else's life. 

"He loved life and he loved it to the fullest," she said.

Fahrendorff, a Golden Valley native, pursued hobbies such as motorcycling, gardening and making fried-green tomatoes. Linda described him as a high-energy person always on the go and looking to soak in new information.

Before joining the fire department, Fahrendorff made folk harps and hammered dulcimers, and would rent them out to people. 

"They were all unique and handmade," Linda said of his instruments. "He took the pleasure and time to make something that produced sound, beautiful sound."

Along with his wife, Fahrendorff is survived by two sisters, Joyce Hagen and Nancy Barsic; a son, Gregg; a daughter, Heather; ten grandchildren--Jacob, Presley, April, Evan, Ericka, Spring, Thorin, Alaina, Issac and Valerie--along with one great-grandson, Greg.

"He loved the grandchildren," said Linda. "He was a prankster and he’d get into trouble and he’d get them into trouble. Sometimes we’d get a call, and we’d say, 'Okay, is there and adult child there too?'"

, Fahrendorff was on a weekend ride with about 17 people from the Lost 202 Riding Club—the motorcycle club to which he belonged—about eight miles from their resort in Garrison, near Mille Lacs Lake, his wife said, when he crashed. According to the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office, Fahrendorff was rounding a corner when his motorcycle slid onto the graveled shoulder and when he tried to recover back to the road, his front tire hooked the shoulder and flipped. Excessive speed wasn't an issue, but Fahrendorff also wasn't wearing a helmet. A helicopter arrived, and Fahrendorff was pronounced dead on the scene.

Linda said Fahrendorff was always a safe rider.

"He came down first and the bike came down on him," she said.

A memorial service is from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at Station 1 of the Golden Valley Fire Department, at 7800 Golden Valley Road.

"If anybody shows up in a suit, I’m going to tell them to go back and change," Linda said.