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HARRY JOHN TENGELSEN
Feb. 1, 1932 Sept. 6, 2016
Harry Tengelsen young K

Harry John went home to be with our heavenly Father. We are devastated, our hearts are broken, but he is now in the most perfect place. Harry was born to Norwegian parents, Alf and Thora Tengelsen, and was raised in Cleveland, Ohio, along with his siblings (Roy, Ruth, and Donald). He was thoroughly American and loved our country, but he also was taught many Norwegian traditions. Harry proudly served in the Navy as an airplane captain. Following his naval stint he attended Michigan State University and received his BA degree and later received a BS certificate. After graduating from MSU, he came out West and worked his adult life in California – his specialty was in manufacturing/procurement engineering. He enjoyed watching sports, always the news, and Nascar racing on TV, relaxed working in the garden and working on cars, built a house and remodeled others (always showing and teaching his sons along the way), he had fun spending time and playing board games with his family and friends, enjoyed a little traveling, and he had a dry sense of humor. There was a gamut of important events (glad and sad) that transpired over the many years of his life, but the most important and greatest pleasures and treasures in his life were his family and his gifts to us were his time and unconditional love. He felt especially blessed being part of his church family – Saron Lutheran Church, and his faith in God was strong, which always helped him get through some difficult times in life. Harry was preceded in death by his son (Steven), his father and mother (Alf and Thora), his younger brother (Donald). Harry is survived by: his devoted wife, Suzanne, his wonderful sons and their wives John and Kelly, Paul and Carol; Helen (Steven’s partner), brother Roy and wife Fay Tengelsen, sister Ruth Pape, brother/sister-in law Daniel and Anna Karoly, and sister-in-law Sonya Vitas. He also leaves behind his ten fantastic grandchildren and their spouses – Laura (Alan) Crist, Alisha (Stan) Swinton, Daniel (Katie) Tengelsen, Taylor (Nate) Worthington, Shannon (Christian) Francis, Benjamin (Laura) Tengelsen, Kendall Tengelsen, Jacob (Sadie) Tengelsen, Tenille (Jake) Gorringe, and Spencer Tengelsen, 19 sweet great-grandchildren, many neat nieces and nephews and their spouses/children, his dog, Molly, and some very special friends. Harry was a family man, an anchor and beacon for us all, and a “salt-of-the-earth” man. He was unpretentious; his love for us, his presence, and his good values were our stability and balance in life.
We are aching and immensely miss our beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, but we have faith we will be united with him again one day. Physically he no longer is here, but spiritually he is, watching over and guiding us. Rest in peace our precious Harry! A remembrance service for Harry will be held at Saron Lutheran Church, 1742 North Street, Escalon, CA 95320, Saturday, October 1, at 11 a.m., with a light luncheon to follow. All are welcome. The family humbly requests, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Harry’s name to Saron Lutheran Church (1742 North St, Escalon, CA 95320).

The Escalon (Calif.) Times
Sept. 21, 2016