HAROLD EKLUND

Harold Lloyd Eklund, of Stanchfield, passed away on Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at the Prairie Senior Cottages in Isanti.  He was 92 years old.

Harold was born on April 27, 1930 in Nessel Township to parents Nels and Harriet (Anderson) Eklund.  He attended country school, later graduating from Braham High School in 1948.   Harold was confirmed at the Calvary Lutheran Church at Rush Point. While at a church gathering, he met Mary Louise Forsberg.  On December 30, 1950, the couple was united in marriage at the Calvary Lutheran Church.  In his younger years, Harold loved dancing with Mary, bowling, and playing softball.

Harold worked for Sewall Gears in St. Paul after graduating high school before purchasing a farm east of Stanchfield in 1953.  He raised dairy cows and crops.  In 1980, his son Steve joined him and together they worked the farm for the next 35 years.  In 2008, the dairy cows were sold.  After Mary’s death in 2018, with the help of his family, Harold continued to stay on the farm until November of 2021 when he moved to Prairie Senior Cottages.  Mary was Harold’s soulmate and he mourned her death each day after.  Harold took great pride is his family and always made his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren his top priority.

Harold was a long-time member of the Calvary Lutheran Church and served on the church council and cemetery board.  He served on the Chisago Co. Fair Board for 50 years and was instrumental in starting the first tractor pull in the area. He served on the Braham School Board and was on the Board of Directors for ECE.  Harold was a lifelong member of the Farmers Union and was on the FUMPA Board.  He did many fly-in trips to DC with the Farmers Union for agriculture legislation.  He served on the Chisago County FSA Board and as a supervisor for Nessel Township.   He was a founding member of the Grandy Lions.  Harold was a staunch Democrat and fought for farm families both local and abroad.  He loved to visit with people and had a knack for finding a connection to everyone he met.  He will be dearly missed. 

Harold is preceded in death by his parents, wife Mary, and brother Roger.

Harold is survived by his children, Steve (Pam) Eklund, Pam (Brian) Thompson, Cheryl (Tom) Hagfors; grandchildren, Jeff (Lindsey) Eklund, Tim (Rita) Eklund, Joanna Mary Eklund, Sarah (Brandon) Sakry, Kristi (Nathan) Bucher, Marsha Hagfors, and Michelle (Mike) Lemire; great grandchildren, Tyler, Isaac, Madelyn, Benjamin Eklund, Owen, Anderson, Emmett Eklund, Josh, Marisol, Thalia, Elias Sakry, Ruby and Luke Bucher, and Blake Lemire; brothers, Wallace (Margery), Russell (Phyllis), Douglas (Vicki); sister-in-law, Marian Eklund; many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

A Funeral Service will be held at 11:00 am on Friday, March 10, 2023 at the Calvary Lutheran Church at Rush Point with Rev. Dr. Vicki VanderVegt officiating.  Visitation will be held 1 ½ hour prior to the service beginning at 9:30am.  Interment will be in the Calvary Lutheran Cemetery.  Memorials are preferred to the Calvary Lutheran Church. Arrangements were entrusted to the Hamilton Funeral Homes - Rock Chapel of Braham.  Condolences may be posted at www.hamiltonfhs.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of HAROLD EKLUND, please visit our floral store.