Rev. Harry Eklund Jr.

Harry Eklund was born July 17, 1932 in Cloquet, Minnesota to parents Harry A. Eklund, Sr. and Irene Helen (Lantz) Eklund.  He was preceded in death by parents; grandparents; sister Lois; daughter Kristin (Eklund) Johnson; and son, Gregory Eklund.

He attended Jefferson Grade School and Cloquet High School, graduating in 1950, and proudly served in the US Navy from 1951-1955, aboard the USS Chloris ARVE-4 and as part of the enlisted staff of the Commander Destroyer Squadron Ten aboard the USS Brownson DD868.

Harry attended the University of Minnesota Duluth, graduating in 1958.  He married his partner in life, Jeannette Mae Kyro in June, 1958 and they became parents of Greg, Tim and Kristin.

After college, Harry worked for Diamond National Corp in Mancos, Colorado; Reserve Mining Company in Silver Bay; and as a sales representative for Holden Printing and Business Forms Company in Minneapolis.

Sensing the call to ministry, Harry returned to school in 1965, attending Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary in Minneapolis, graduating and ordained in 1968.  Jeanette accompanied and actively supported Harry’s call to ministry throughout his career in full-time parish ministry and later as he offered his gifts to multiple congregations as an interim pastor.

Harry served full-time pastorates at Trinity Lutheran, Benson; Concordia Lutheran, Duluth; Trinity Lutheran, St. Peter; and Cambridge Lutheran, Cambridge.  As an interim pastor, he served at Long Lake Lutheran, Isanti; Braham Lutheran, Braham; Spring Lake Lutheran, North Branch; First Lutheran, Harris; and briefly at Glen Cary Lutheran, Ham Lake; and Immanuel Lutheran, Brunswick.  Pastor Harry also served on several local civic and Church Synodical boards throughout his ministry.

He is survived by Jeanette, wife of nearly 67 years, son Tim (Lois) Eklund, grandchildren Ryan (Erika) Eklund, Andrew (Emma) Eklund and Brittany Eklund, and great-grandchildren Clara, Edith, Florence and George Eklund (Ryan and Erika) and Lina (Andrew and Emma Eklund) arriving in early June.

A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 11:00. Visitation beginning at 10:00 at Mount Olive Lutheran Church 3045 Chicago Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55407

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