Earl Richard (Gronberg) Hafslund

• 

Hafslund Earl Richard (Gronberg) Hafslund, beloved husband for 63 years of Elsie (Pullin) Hafslund of Willow Street, PA relocated from Wilmington, DE, died August 8, 2005. He was born in Minneapolis, MN, August 3, 1916, son of Eigel Gronberg and Ingeborg (Falkenstrom) Gronberg. After the death of his father, Earl was raised by his mother & step-father, Tormod Hafslund, in Mpls. Earl was a graduate of South High School, Minneapolis. He received a Bachelor's in Chemical Engineering and Bachelor's in Business Administration from the University of MN and a Ph.D. from Purdue University. Earl worked for Industrial Finishes, St. Paul, MN and Joseph E. Seagrams and Sons in production and research. He worked in the Engineering Dept. of E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. for 36 years, where he was the senior consultant in Mass Transfer. He was a member of AIChE; his research was published in Chemical Engineering Progress, Sept. 1969 ‘Azeotropic & Extractive Distillation...Propylene - Propane Extraction Distillation.' During Earl's working career they lived in Lafayette, IN, Relay, MD, Waynesboro, VA, Staunton, VA, Niagara Falls, NY, and Wilmington, DE. Earl retired from DuPont in 1981. After retirement Earl taught at the University of Delaware and consulted for DuPont. Earl's expertise was by no means limited to chemistry; he was also astute in business, always generous with valuable input and advice. Earl's greatest enjoyments included sailing on the Chesapeake River with Elsie, traveling extensively, fishing, playing tennis, and beating family members at bum- per pool. A testament of his caring included volunteering to drive for the American Red Cross. He picked up many patients with cancer, talked to them about their anxiety & returned them safely home. He was quiet & self assuring, someone you could always trust. Earl was always offering a helping hand to others in need. A highlight of Earl's day was taking a walk in the park and visiting with all the dogs. After returning from a walk, he gave the family a canine-accounting for the day. He particularly enjoyed the family vacations in MN and Maine. The lives of every member of Earl Hafs- lund's family will feel the loss of his sparkle and energy. Throughout his life, Earl lived by the Golden Rule. He exuded enthusiasm and inspired those in need in spite of losing his eyesight for the last several years. Even in his last days, in & out of consciousness, he gave joy and laughter by joining in and softly singing along with his family. He was an eternal optimist with a reminder that the greatest thing in this world is not so much where we are, but in what direction we are moving. Adlai Stevenson once commented: "It is not the years in a life that counts; it's the life in the years." As a hus- band, a father & mentor, he will be dearly missed by all who knew him. Earl Hafslund was a devoted husband and super father to his three daughters, Ann, and the twins, Lynn and Karen. He will be sadly missed by the entire family including Ann & Sterling Andrews of Newington, CT, Lynn & Norman Mead of Golts, MD, Karen & Chuck Kovacs of Towanda, PA; six grandchildren, Michael Kelley, Mark Kelley, Paul Kelley, Elrond Soukup, Charles Kovacs, & Mark Kovacs; five great- grandchildren, Alexandra Kelley, Christopher Kelley, Kyle Kelley, Nicholas Kelley, Megan Kovacs; his brother and sister-in-law Bob and Carmen Hafslund, Carlsbad, CA. Earl was predeceased by his parents, his brother, Gordon Hafslund, his sister, Joyce Hafslund McGannon, and his grandson, David Kovacs. Many nieces & nephews in Mpls, Carslbad, Las Vegas, and San Antonio will miss Earl, his terrific smile and his good humor. His life will be celebrated with a Memorial Service on Friday, August 12, 2005 at Willow Valley Lakes Thomas Auditorium, 300 Willow Valley Lakes Drive, Willow Street, PA at 10 AM with the Rev. Ron Bohannon officiating. The family will receive friends following the Memorial Service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Earl's memory may be made to Hospice of Lancaster County, PO Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604- 4125 or to a charity of the donor's choice. Arr. Fred F. Groff Funeral Home, Lancaster, PA.

Published on August 11, 2005