Gregory Elstad

Obituary of Gregory Paul Elstad

Gregory Paul Elstad, 76, of Carlton, MN died suddenly at his home on April 15, 2023. He was born July 2, 1946 in Hallock, MN. Greg graduated high school in Randolph, MN in 1964 and went on to the UMN and graduated with a bachelors in forestry. Later he studied Silviculture in Oregon OSU. After college he entered the Navy and worked on the USS Saratoga in the Tonkin Gulf during the Vietnam War from 1969 to 1973. Due to his exposure to Agent Orange, Greg battled many health issues including Parkinson’s and cancers that later led to his death. After Vietnam, Greg worked for the US Forest Service in Idaho and Oregon. After retirement in 2000, he settled in Carlton, MN where he spent most of his time nurturing a tree farm, which he has donated to the U of M. He was awarded Tree Farmer of the Year in 2022. He worked as a forestry consultant to landowners in the Carlton area. After spending his life as a bachelor, in 2007 he started “wooing and winning a wife.” He stated he “had to act lovable for TWO solid months.” He got “not only a wife but also a best friend.” After teaching Lola how to hunt water fowl and fish, he decided she was the one and were wed October 2007.
Despite the infirmities resulting from his military service, he never lost his unique sense of humor or his love for outdoor activities.

Preceded in death by his parents, George Martin and Berenice Olive (Loftness) Elstad; nephew, Josh Lamken; step-daughter, Christie Lund.

Survived by wife, Lola Elstad of Carlton; step-sons, Len (Jody Greniger) Lund and Jerry Lund both of Cloquet; step-grandchildren, Amber (Spencer) Kadlec and their children Ava and Mila Kadlec, Haley (Drake) Egge and their children Jaela and Zion Egge, Davin Lund, Derek Lund and Elise Lund; sisters, Marilyn (Dick) Jaeger of Savoy, IL, and Reeni (Jack) Knudson of Prescott, AZ; nieces and nephews, Kelly Knudson LaFave, Ted Knudson, Jonathan Vold, Daniel Lamken, Anneliese Potter; many great nephews and nieces, relatives and a host of friends.

We wish to thank the many caregivers and the VA Healthcare System who helped Greg.

Funeral will be held Wednesday, April 26th at Hope Lutheran Church 4093 Munger Shaw Rd. Cloquet, MN. Visitation will start at 10:00 am, funeral at 11:00 am with lunch to follow.  Arrangements entrusted to Atkins Northland Funeral Home, Cloquet.  To sign the guest book and leave an online tribute, see www.atkinsnorthlandfuneralhome.com.

A life complete, God called him home, and we rejoice with tears in our Savior’s timing.

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Wednesday
26
April

Visitation

10:00 am - 11:00 am
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Hope Lutheran Church
4093 Munger Shaw Road
Cloquet, Minnesota, United States
Wednesday
26
April

Memorial Service

11:00 am
Wednesday, April 26, 2023
Hope Lutheran Church
4093 Munger Shaw Road
Cloquet, Minnesota, United States
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