John Harvey

John Wesley Harvey was born February 4, 1946 in Granite Falls, MN the son of Wesley and Marian (Nicolai) Harvey. He was raised on the family farm at Maynard, MN where he graduated from high school. John joined the US Air Force and served at Lackland AFB, Amarillo AFB and several years at K.I. Sawyer AFB near Marquette, MI. He was trained as an aircraft mechanic. Following his discharge John returned to Minnesota and attended technical college at Thief River Falls. He was certified as an Airframe & Powerplant mechanic. John was united in marriage on March 22, 1968 to Carol Wiglund at Bethany Reformed Church in Clara City, MN. The couple made their home in Alexandria, MN and was blessed with one child, Lea. John began work at Bellanca Aircraft and then began working for ITW Heartland. John was at ITW for twenty-seven years. He retired as a quality control manager in April 2009. John enjoyed the outdoors. He liked to bird watch and go for walks. John also liked to garden and do geo-caching. Camping with the family was one of John?s favorite pastimes. He pulled his trailer throughout the upper Midwest on his camping trips. He also traveled to Florida and Alaska. John really enjoyed music and was an avid reader. Most important in John?s life was his connections with his family and friends. On Tuesday, May 4, 2010 John died at the age of sixty-four years. His grandparents; his father, Wesley Harvey; and two sisters-in-law, Vicki Harvey and Marjorie Breems, preceded him in death. John is survived by his wife, Carol Harvey of Alexandria; his mother, Marian Harvey of Clara City; his daughter, Lea Haak and husband, Michael, of Alexandria; one grandson, Sean Haak; one brother, James Harvey of Willmar, MN; and three sisters, Sandra Coates of Watson, MN, Sharon Carpenter and husband, Leonard, of Minneapolis, MN and Pamela Redetzke and husband, Jon, of Wood Lake, MN. A funeral service will be held at 11 AM Saturday, May 8, 2010 at Alexandria Covenant Church. Reverend Rol Boyce will officiate. Interment will follow in the White Garden Cemetery near Alexandria. Honorary pallbearers include all of John?s nieces and nephews, Dustin Coates, Nathan Coates, Amanda Gustafson, Tom Gustafson, Amelia Carpenter, Shane Carpenter and Kyle Redetzke. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 PM Friday at the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria and also one hour prior to the service at church. Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral Home.