Harold D. Carlin, age 88 of East Bethel, passed away August 21, 2007 at his home. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday August 25 at Strike Funeral Home – Isanti Chapel with Johnny Elgin officiating. A time of visiting will be held 1 hour prior to the service. A luncheon will be served at Elim Baptist Church following the memorial service. Interment will be in East Bethel Cemetery.
Harold David Carlin was born December 2, 1918 at East Bethel, Minnesota to Carl and Mary (Pearson) Carlin. He was raised and attended school in the East Bethel/Cedar area. Harold served in the Civilian Conservation Corp as a young man and then with his work with the railroad he traveled to Chicago. He was then drafted and served his country in the US Army during WWII. After his time of service Harold returned to Chicago where he met Lila Cutler. On August 12, 1944 they were married and they lived in Chicago until 1947 when they returned to Harold’s family farm in East Bethel.
Harold was a hard working man who always took care of his family. He farmed and later also worked as a machinist at Northern Ordinance/FMC. In 1961 he built a new home for his family. He chopped wood until he was 86 years old and he also planted over 5,000 trees in Anoka County. Harold was also a very social person who enjoyed any size gathering of people. He also enjoyed cribbage, playing practical jokes, being active outside, gardening, fishing, reading, following the Minnesota Twins and Vikings, and playing cards with the Senior Citizen’s Card Club for over 20 years.
Harold will be lovingly remembered by his wife Lila of East Bethel; son, David (Kathy) Carlin of Coon Rapids; two daughters, Teri (Johnny) Elgin of Isanti, Peggy Lazer of Champlain; sister, Edith Grant of Cambridge; eight grandchildren, Lisa (Erik) Kimble, Tracie (Ron) Simon, Shane (Laura) Elgin, Shannon Woodford, Sarah Kano, Sam (Cherise) Elgin, Amanda Lazer, and Jessica Lazer; 18 great-grandchildren, Dillon Beyers, Brock Kimble, Jeff Simon, Katie Simon, Alyssa Rashick, Madaline Simon, Lujak Elgin, Rhiannon Elgin, Johnny Elgin, Jr., Alexis Wiita, Brittany Elgin, Bailey Woodford, Savannah Fairfield, Cassandra Kano, Samanthah Kano, Devin Melchezideck, Seth Elgin and Storm Elgin; by other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Mary Carlin; two brothers, Stanley and Arvid; three sisters, Lillie Dahlberg, Florence Fiedler and Geraldine Malm; grandson, Shad Elgin; and by great-grandchildren, Jake Woodford, and Elishah and Sebastian Elgin.