Harold "Huck" J. McRae 86, of Eau Claire died Saturday, December 18, 2004, at Luther Hospital. He was born in the town of Brunswick, Wisconsin on December 4, 1918, the son of John and Ada (Brown) McRae. Harold graduated from St. Patrick High School with the class of 1936. \r\nHe enlisted in the U. S. Army in January 1942. He served in the European Theatre where he helped set up the telecommunication lines for the D-Day invasion. When the Germans asked for the United States' surrender, Harold was responsible for sending the message, "Nuts". He was honorably discharged in November 1945.\r\nHarold married Jeanne Rostad on April 19, 1947, at St. Agnes Church in St. Paul, Minnesota.\r\nHe retired as a machine operator from Uniroyal after 40 years of service in 1979.\r\nHe was a member of Immaculate Conception Church.\r\nHarold is survived by his four daughters, Cathy Haasl of Eau Claire, Patt (Steven) Nusbaum of Apple Valley, MN; Joan (Doug) Raasch of South St. Paul, MN, and Laurie (Wayne) Nelson of Lakeville, MN; five grandchildren, Melissa (Joseph) Schmidt, Amy (Raymond) Steinbach, Christopher Fasching, and Theresa and Sarah Nelson; two great grandchildren, Samuel and Sophia Schmidt; two sisters-in-law, Eileen (Harvey) Huntington of Eau Claire and Fern Rasmussen of Woodbury, MN; and several nieces and nephews.\r\nHe was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Jeanne this past September; a brother, John McRae; sister, Evelyn Wallon; and his step-father, Walter Gruhlke.\r\nMass of Christian Burial will be held at Noon Thursday, December 23, 2004, at Immaculate Conception Church with Father Eugene A. Klink officiating. Burial will be in Rest Haven Cemetery in the town of Washington where VFW Post #305 will conduct military graveside rites. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Lenmark-Gomsrud-Linn Funeral Home.

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