Final Chapter;
Earl Alfred Elmquist, 93

Earl A. Elmquist, 2010,
at the Hult/Elmquist
homestead farm near
Chisago City, Minnesota

Published: Saturday, November 26, 2011 at 8:19 a.m.

LAUREL PARK — After a gallant fight for his life, Earl A. Elmquist succumbed to a brief but acute illness on Friday, November 18, at Pardee ICU with two of his daughters by his side.
Born in Chisago City, Minnesota on January 12, 1918, to John William and Ida Amanda Elmquist, he was preceded in death by his twelve siblings and by his beloved wife, Helen.

Mr. Elmquist was a 1934 graduate of Central High in Minneapolis and received a BS in Chemistry from the University of Minnesota in 1942. Earl and Helen, wed in 1941, had celebrated 67 years of marriage before her death in 2008. They lovingly raised four daughters and two sons in their homes in California, Oregon, New Jersey, Illinois, and Texas during the span of Earl's 40 year career with Shell Oil Company as a chemical research engineer. They eventually retired in Laurel Park in 1983. Opportunity House, Delightful Diners, Cribbage Club, golfing and bowling leagues kept them active during these years. Travels took them to Europe, Sweden, Tahiti, Hawaii, Paraguay, Uruguay, Peru, Costa Rica and over much of the US for family visits. During his lifetime, he was a skilled photographer, enjoyed the study of languages, and shared his love of classical music with his whole family. Earl kept a large vegetable garden, enjoyed his monthly poker club and loved to fish on the small lake by his home.

He was an avid volunteer in his community, serving as President for both Civitan and Opportunity House, receiving Civitan's Distinguished President's Award in 1993 and 1994. He also volunteered as a teacher for the Blue Ridge Literary Council and tutored others in the community. Mr. Elmquist was a founding member of the Apple Hills Lake Association, served for years as president and is often described as being "the voice of reason" at the meetings.

Earl was a loving and devoted husband and father. His family will always remember him for his unconditional love, his integrity, his modesty and his unrelenting willingness to lend a helping hand. He maintained lifelong friendships, attending reunions with his high school Pipers' Club even in recent years. Everyone he met was charmed by his warmth, kindness and love of story telling.

Earl is survived by his six children, Carolyn Johnson and husband, Dan, of Grayslake, Ill., Janet Korman and husband, Robert, of West Chicago, Ronald Elmquist and wife, Alice, of Dallas, Chris Elmquist of Gainesville, Fla., David Elmquist and wife, Alison, of Dallas and Elizabeth Greeker of Norcross, Ga.; his grandchildren, Wendy Johnson Zumpano, Erik Johnson, Tina Korman Bryk, Rob Korman, Blake Elmquist, Mac Elmquist, JoAnna Elmquist and Lara Elmquist; and seven great-grandchildren.
Family members would like to thank special care givers Eusebio and Anita Gutierrez and the caring staff at Hendersonville Health & Rehabilitation who even in his passing days recognized Earl's sweet and gentle nature.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the foundation dedicated to the research of Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS/CIPD International Foundation) www.gbs-cidp.org or in support of the homeless a Hendersonville Rescue Mission http://www.hendersonvillerescuemission.net.

A celebration of Earl's life was held at Grace Lutheran Church in Hendersonville on Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 2:00PM.