Service Information
Earl Gifford, age 95, of Cokato, passed away Friday, December 30, 2016, at his home in Cokato.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, January 3, 2017, 11:00 A.M. at St. John’s Catholic Church in Darwin with interment following in the church cemetery.
Gathering of Family & Friends will be Tuesday, January 3, 2017, one hour prior to the service at the church.
Obituary
Earl Frank Gifford was born on October 26, 1921, in Brown County, Comfrey, Minnesota. He was the son of Frank and Electa Mae (Jackett) Gifford. Earl was baptized as an infant at the Catholic Church in Comfry, Minnesota, and was later confirmed in his faith as a youth, at Saint Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Mankato, Minnesota. He received his education thru the 10th grade at Mankato Loyola Catholic School in Mankato. Earl was also a part of the Civilian Conservation Corps Program in Grand Marais, Minnesota. He entered active military service in the United States Navy on March 2, 1942, and served his country during World War II on the the USS Fanshaw Bay as an aviation radio operator. He received an Honorable Discharge on October 22, 1945, and was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds suffered in combat.
Earl was united in marriage to Louise Gustafson for over 30 years. Their marriage was blessed with four children, Carl, Charis, Christina and Brooks.
On October 11, 1994, Earl was united in marriage to Donna Harris in Astoria, Oregon. Earl and Donna made their home in Cokato, Minnesota. Their marriage was also blessed with Donna’s 6 children, Jeanette, Paul, Jeffery, Catherine, Robert and Steve. Earl and Donna shared 22 years of marriage.
Earl worked as a truck driver and for the United States Postal Service in Oregon City, Oregon, and St. Paul, Minnesota, and retired in 1981. In his later years, he drove school and charter busses. He was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church in Darwin, Minnesota. Earl was also a member of the Brainerd VFW Post #1647 and the Howard Lake Legion Post #145.
Earl enjoyed woodworking, traveling, making beef jerky and drying fruits including bananas and apples. He especially treasured the time spent with his family, grandchildren, great grandchildren and friends. “Everyone loved Earl!” He was a very proud veteran.
Earl passed away on Friday, December 30, 2016, at his home in Cokato at the age of 95 years.
Blessed be his memory.
Earl is survived by his:
Wife, Donna “June” Gifford of Cokato, MN;
Children, Carl Quentin Gifford and his wife, Debbie, of ID,
Charis Faye Woodward and her husband, Durwood, of OR,
Christina Sager and her husband, Roger, of OR,
Brooks Diane Louise Cullison and her husband, Dean, of OR;
Step Children, Jeanette Gunnerson and her husband, James, of Annandale, MN,
Paul Harris and his wife, Jenny, of Burnsville, MN,
Jeffery Harris and his wife, Judy, of WI,
Catherine Harris of Willmar, MN,
Robert Harris and his wife, Shelby, of MO;
27 Grandchildren;
32 Great Grandchildren;
6 Great-Great Grandchildren;
Brother, Harold Gifford and his wife, Carol, of Woodbury, MN;
Sister, June Shoen of Hastings, MN;
Brother-In-Law, Robert Schumann and his wife, Donna, of Annandale, MN;
Daughter-In-Law, Lori Harris of Cambridge, MN;
Many other relatives and friends.
Earl is preceded in death by his Parents, Frank and Electa Gifford; 1st Wife, Louise Gustafson; Son, Steve Harris; Sister, Rosemary Schumann; Brother, Quentin John Gifford; Brother-In-Law, Sam Shoen.
Al & Faye Kobilansky says
Rest in Peace Earl. He was a good friend and a Great Patriot and American. Our country owes him a debt of gratitude.
Shannon Miller says
My Grandpa, my Hero. If you have ever met my grandpa you knew immediately that you were in the presence of greatness. When he walked into a room he had a presence that just seemed to fill the entire space. The life my Grandfather lived was the stuff of story books and legends. Son, soldier, father, hopeless romantic and adventurer his paths took him on journeys I could only hope to experience and survive. Grandpa viewed life through eyes of kindness, love, generosity, and humor. He was easily the most positive person I ever met or known. He always found the bright side of everything. Some of my favorite memories with him are filled with his story telling, always making me laugh and surprising me with his ability to make me feel loved and celebrated. When I was little he would take us to A&W for Rootbeer floats, when he came to visit he always had boxes of CrackerJacks with a surprise inside. Christmas was magical with my Grandfather. He always had the house decorated with lights, and a Santa on the roof. He would dress up as Santa and bring us our stocking. When life was hard and I didn’t think I could go on grandpa was there to encourage me on, helping me to pull myself up and carry on. He loved gardening, I am sure that is where I received my passion for it. His tomatoes and cucumbers were always big, delicious, and perfect. One year grandpa and I drove from Hastings, MN to Lake of the Woods. We talked all through the night. My Grandpa was a bonafied war hero as he saved the lives of two children who were left behind for dead in a trench grave during WWII, he saved the life Tommy Lupo his fellow flight commrade when their plane went down, and I am sure there are numerous others that I don’t know about. This portion of his life is perhaps the most electrifying, but my Grandfather was always so modest. Even as, on rare occasion, he relayed those frightening and medal worthy events, he never once bragged. This perhaps, among so many other qualities, was one of the most impressive. He was such a humble man even though he had plenty to strut about. Through his entire life he was always reaching out to others with a heart of compassion. Where ever he went, whatever he did he always had a huge following. My grandpa may have left this earth to enter heaven, but he left all of us with a beautiful legacy and the inherent desire to be just as he was. I will never forget his intoxicating laugh, his infectious smile, or the love he so often showed me. I love you grandpa but I know I will see you again and you will have an entire slew of new stories for me.
Shannon Miller says
My Grandpa, my Hero. If you have ever met my grandpa
you knew immediately that you were in the presence of greatness. When he
walked into a room he had a presence that just seemed to fill the entire space.
The life my Grandfather lived was the stuff of story books and legends. Son,
soldier, father, hopeless romantic and adventurer his paths took him on
journeys I could only hope to experience and survive. Grandpa viewed life
through eyes of kindness, love, generosity, and humor. He was easily the most
positive person I ever met or known. He always found the bright side of
everything. Some of my favorite memories with him are filled with his
story telling, always making me laugh and surprising me with his ability to
make me feel loved and celebrated. When I was little he would take us to
A&W for Rootbeer floats, when he came to visit he always had boxes of
CrackerJacks with a surprise inside. Christmas was magical with my
Grandfather. He always had the house decorated with lights, and a Santa
on the roof. He would dress up as Santa and bring us our stocking.
When life was hard and I didn’t think I could go on grandpa was there to
encourage me on, helping me to pull myself up and carry on. He loved
gardening, I am sure that is where I received my passion for it. His
tomatoes and cucumbers were always big, delicious, and perfect. One year
grandpa and I drove from Hastings, MN to Lake of the Woods. We talked all
through the night. My Grandpa was a bonafied war hero as he saved the
lives of two children who were left behind for dead in a trench grave during
WWII, he saved the life Tommy Lupo his fellow flight commrade when their plane
went down, and I am sure there are numerous others that I don’t know about.
This portion of his life is perhaps the most electrifying, but my Grandfather
was always so modest. Even as, on rare occasion, he relayed those frightening
and medal worthy events, he never once bragged. This perhaps, among so
many other qualities, was one of the most impressive. He was such a humble man
even though he had plenty to strut about. Through his entire life he was
always reaching out to others with a heart of compassion. Where ever he
went, whatever he did he always had a huge following. My grandpa may have
left this earth to enter heaven, but he left all of us with a beautiful legacy
and the inherent desire to be just as he was. I will never forget his
intoxicating laugh, his infectious smile, or the love he so often showed
me. I love you grandpa but I know I will see you again and you will have
an entire slew of new stories for me. Love Shannon
Patric Woodward says
RIP to the kindest, most generous man I’ve ever known. I strive everyday to be 1/2 the person you’ve been…and I’ll continue to do so. Knowing you like I do, you’re climbing on the Pearly Gates not just walking through them. 95 years was a hell of a run but it was still too short. Much Love Grandpa, Much Love! ?