April 9, 2015 at 1:46 p.m.
Earl Leaf
Earl Leaf
Earl was born to Arvid and Bessie Leaf on September 20, 1923, and grew up in Richfield, Minnesota. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946 in the European Theatre of War (ETO). After discharge, Earl continued his education at Gustavus Adolphus College, graduating in the Class of 1951. He worked as a sports writer/editor for the Mankato Free Press and as an admissions counselor for Gustavus before beginning a long career in education, teaching English in the Glenwood and St. Louis Park, Minnesota school districts. He retired in 1984 and spent his retirement years in the communities of New London and Willmar, Minnesota, pursuing his interests of genealogy and history.
Earl, whose roots were in Chisago County, was a familiar face to many in the area, through his research activities on the pioneers of Chisago County. His work is documented in publications that are available in the libraries and historical societies in the area. Earl delighted in not only documenting the genealogical facts, but better yet, telling their stories.
Earl is survived by wife Helen Jo, son Jonathan (Cindy Monturiol) Leaf of Minnetonka; daughter Heidi (David) Haagenson of Willmar; daughter Jane (Steve) Richer of Cass Lake; grandchildren Sara (Aaron) Karch; Sam (Christi) Reed; Nicholas, Katerina and Nathaniel Leaf; and Jill and Megan Richer; sister Lorraine Stavig; brother Delbert (Lorraine) Leaf; sister Carol (Bud) Nelson; sister-in-law Patricia Lundeen; and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Glenn Leaf, and brother-in-law, Paul Stavig.
Services Friday, April 10, at Oak Knoll Lutheran Church, 600 Hopkins Crossroad (Cty Rd 73), Minnetonka, Minnesota, with visitation Thursday evening 6 to 8 pm at Washburn-McReavy Strobeck Johnson Chapel in Hopkins, MN. Memorials are preferred to Operation Smile (www.operationsmile.org).
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