Harlen Jorgenson

Harlen E. Jorgenson, age 83, of New London formerly of Sunburg, died Tuesday evening at the Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.

Funeral services will be held at 11 A.M., Saturday, July 31, at the Hope Lutheran Church in Sunburg. The interment will be in the West Norway Lake Lutheran Cemetery near Sunburg. Friends may call at the church one hour prior to the services at the church. Military Honors will be provided by Austin F. Hanscom American Legion Post 167 of Willmar. Arrangements are with Peterson Brothers Sunburg Funeral Home in Sunburg.

Harlen Elwood Jorgenson was born on January 28, 1927 in the Sunburg, Minnesota area to Elmer and Agnes (Ellingson) Jorgenson. He grew up in the rural Sunburg community and attended country schools and Kerkhoven schools. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was stationed in Spokane, Washington. On April 14, 1950, he married Irene E. Sorenson in Brooten, Minnesota. They made their home in St. Paul, where Harlen worked as a printer and pressman for Horner-Waldorf Paper company. Harlen retired in 1986 and they moved to Sunburg. Harlen was an active member of Hope Lutheran Church and a member of Austin F. Hanscom American Legion Post 167 in Willmar. He loved gardening, fishing, hunting and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also loved sports and enjoyed coaching Little League and watching the Twins and Vikings.

He is survived by five sons: Douglas Jorgenson of Pepin, WI, Dennis Jorgenson of Inver Grove Heights, Jeffrey (and Doreen) Jorgenson of Sioux Falls, SD, Joel (and Donna) Jorgenson of Sunburg and Neil (and Helen) Jorgenson of St. Paul; thirteen grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law: Henry Roos of Belgrade; a sister-in-law: Evelyn Reigstad of Sunburg; and other relatives and friends.

Harlen was preceded in death by his parents; his wife: Irene in 2007; two brothers: John Jorgenson and Vernon Jorgenson; and two sisters: Devane Freese and Rachel Roos.