Harold Robert Westphal

Ireton, Iowa~ Harold Robert Westphal, 89, of Ireton, passed away on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at Tagum City in the Philippines, where he had been living with his daughter and family.

Memorial Service will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 11, 2026, at the First Reformed Church in Ireton with Rev. Gerald Norman officiating. Inurnment will follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Ireton. A service was also held in the Philippines following his death. Condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com.

Harold Robert Westphal was born September 23, 1936, in Ivanhoe, Minnesota, the son of Robert and Lena (Schroeder) Westphal, and was raised on a farm outside of Lake Benton, Minnesota. He was a farmer for many years along side his father and later retired in 1977 when he married Darris Santema on November 26, 1977.

He moved to Ireton, Iowa in 1977 after getting married and worked for his father-in-law Peter Santema hauling gravel and water and pumping cesspools. Later he sold that business and started driving bus for West Sioux School District and working at Harkers Foods, later for Tyson Foods and then lastly Gorges's Quick to Fix Foods in Sioux Center, Iowa. He later drove bus for Ireton Christian and later Unity Christian High School. He also did handyman services, such as fixing small engines, bikes, and mowing neighbor ladies’ lawns. He was also the caretaker in Orange City for some apartments complexes.

He was a member of Ireton First Reformed Church.

Harold liked to listen to Polka music and he also played the accordion.

Darris passed away June 19, 2015.

Harold is survived by his daughter, Sara (Westphal) Tandog and husband Helbert of Le Mars, Iowa and grandson Stephen; and many family members of Helbert in the Philippines. Also surviving are 2 nieces, Charisse Santema McNamara of Prescott, Arizona and husband Sean and Rachel Santema Freeman of Council Bluffs, Iowa and husband Kevin and their children, Ellery, Logan and Ivy and spouses. Also are cousins through marriage in South Dakota and Minnesota.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Darris; sister; parents; and parents-in-law, Peter and Viola Santema.