Gregory H. Eklund

Gregory Harry Eklund was born on September 6, 1959 in Mancos, Colorado to Harry and Jeanette Eklund.  While an infant, the family moved back home to Minnesota where Greg spent the rest of his life.

Greg attended schools in each of the communities his father served as a Lutheran pastor and graduated from Duluth East High School in 1977.

Greg had a passionate love of music, which he expressed most often through his accomplished trumpet playing – from junior high and high school bands and during his time as a student at Gustavus Adolphus College – and continuing up until just days before his passing.

Greg was a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church and since 2005, had been a member of Holy Nativity Lutheran Church in New Hope, Minnesota, where he was active in many aspects and ministries of congregational life, including Mission work, and specifically the Pine Ridge Reconciliation Center in South Dakota, and Habitat for Humanity.  He sang in the choir and often played his trumpet to accompany the choir and help lead the congregation in worship.

Greg had a colorful and varied work life, from radio host and DJ, to owner and creative director of Urban Communications and Sound Systems and finally as a manager at a local restaurant.

Beyond music, Greg had many other talents and passions, including carpentry, gardening, kayaking on Eagle Lake, cooking and baking and was known by his church family at Holy Nativity for his gluten-free communion wafers.

Greg battled Chronic Kidney Disease for more than a decade and died from complications related to this disease.  In spite of his disease and the growing physical limitations it presented, Greg remained passionate about and active in all his pursuits and was always ever hopeful for better health that could be obtained from a kidney transplant.

Greg is survived by parents Rev. Harry and Jeanette Eklund, brother Tim (Lois) Eklund, nephews Ryan (Erika) Eklund and Andrew Eklund and niece Brittany Eklund, and great nieces and nephew Clara, Edith, Florence and George, and many other relatives and friends.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11AM, Saturday, January 27, 2024 at Holy Nativity Lutheran Church, 3900 Winnetka Avenue North, New Hope, MN.  Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM at the church.  Interment at a later date in Cambridge Lutheran Cemetery.

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