Harlan Amos Switzer

Harlan Amos Switzer, 78, of Cromwell died Saturday, February 7, 2009 in Mercy Hospital in Moose Lake. He was born December 30, 1930 in Holyoke to Orval and Nellsena Switzer. He moved to Automba Township with his family in 1943, attended Kalevala School and graduated from Barnum High School in 1949. Harlan served in the Army as a Gunnery Instructor during the Korean Conflict. He married Mae Johnson on August 30, 1953. After his military service, Harlan and Mae made their home in Kalevala Township where they raised their seven children. Harlan had a milk hauling and dray business for a short time. After working briefly at Erie Mining in Aurora, Harlan worked at C.A.P. in Kettle River from 1958 until retiring in 1992. He also drove part-time for Western Petroleum and Conoco. He married Sally Granholm on June 20, 1987 in Wright. They were very close and enjoyed doing everything together including logging, 4-wheeling, gardening, and tending to their apple orchard. They built a cabin that is known by the family as "the other place". They wintered in Mission, Texas where they made many friends. Harlan organized the retirement park's Music Jams. Harlan was a member of Bethany Lutheran Church in Cromwell, the American Legion, served on the Kalevala School Board and the Cromwell School Board, and the Eagle Lake Cemetery Board. He also taught Fire Arm Safety for 39 years. Harlan enjoyed hunting, fishing, farming and logging. This past summer he cut and sold 97 cords of pulp. He was also very active in the Cromwell community. He was preceded in death by his wives, Mae and Sally; daughter, Patricia; brothers, Robert and Philip; and step-son, Kevin Granholm. Harlan is survived by seven children, Rob (Deb), Keith (Patti), Bill (Denise) and Joe all of Cromwell, Dan (Caroline) of Outing, Mark (Ellen) of Kettle River, and Dawn (John) Pelfrey of Leavenworth, Kansas; step-children, Howard (Julie) Granholm of St. Cloud, Brian "Bucky" (Pauly) Granholm of Kettle River, Kim (Roger) Suhonen of Wright, Tracey (Brent) Goranson and Lynn (Chris) Odegaard both of Cromwell; brothers, Larry of Moose Lake and Roger of Rutledge; sisters, Marion Ahonen of Kettle River, Ruby Tischer of Pine City, and Garnet Oswald of Moose Lake; 18 grandchildren; 12 step-grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; and 4 step-great grandchildren. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 in Bethany Lutheran Church in Cromwell. Military Honors were accorded by the Cloquet Combined Honor Guard. Burial was in Eagle Lake Cemetery in Eagle Township.