Harlan Zurn, age 80, of Nevis, MN died Wednesday, December 12, 2012 in Veterans Administration Medical Center, Fargo, ND after a short but courageous battle with lung cancer.

Harlan Leo Zurn was born December 17, 1931 at White Earth, Minnesota the son of Nicholas and Stella (Bellefeuille) Zurn. He was raised on the family farm in Riceville Township near Callaway, Minnesota. He attended county school in that community through the 8th grade and earned his high school diploma in 1949 from Pallottine College Preparatory Seminary in Milwaukee, WI. Harlan continued his collegiate-level seminary studies at Pallottine College in Madison, WI and the Novitiate in Jessup, MD. Upon leaving the seminary, he entered the United States Army in 1952. While in the military he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division until he was relieved from active duty in 1956 at the rank of 1st Lieutenant. He returned home for a short time before attending NDSU. On July 12, 1958 Harlan was united in marriage to Shirley Malmskog in Callaway, MN. They made their home in Fargo while he continued his studies at NSDU and he worked part time with Asp Construction. After he received his Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering they moved to Coon Rapids, MN where he was employed with Univac. In 1968 he became employed with Comten, Roseville, MN. In 1996 he was transferred to Columbia, SC where he worked until his retirement in 1998. They then moved to Nevis, Minnesota to make their home on Lake Belle Taine.

Over the years Harlan was always active in his church. He was an avid reader and enjoyed anything to do with history, whether reading, going to museums or traveling to the places it occurred. Harlan and Shirley often would travel throughout the country and took several cruises of which he thoroughly enjoyed, but the thing that Harlan truly treasured most was the time he spent with his grandchildren.

Harlan is survived by his wife, Shirley, Nevis, MN, a daughter, Suzanne (Paul) Birkhimer, West Lafayette, IN; four sons: Larry, Park Rapids, MN, Shayne, Salt Lake City, UT, Rick, Edina, MN, and Tim (Mary Jo) Brooklyn Park, MN; three sisters: Betty Dean, Fresno, CA, Estelle (Ray) Farley, Alexandria, MN and Arletta (Art) Munger, Fresno, CA; three brothers: Marcel (Rosemary) and Merlen (Wanda) all of Coon Rapids, MN and David (Eleanor) Fargo, ND; eight grandchildren and one great grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one son Todd, and two brothers, Duane and Marcus.

Funeral Mass was held on Monday, December 17, 2012 at 11:00 AM in Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church in Nevis, MN. Visitation was Sunday, December 16 from 4-6 PM with a Prayer Service and Rosary at 5:00 PM in Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church. Visitation was also one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Rev. Fr. Duane Pribula will be the Celebrant. The organist was Ardis Johnson with Carol Dierkhising as song leader. Nick Birkhimer is the violinist. His pallbearers were grandsons: Tony Zmuda, Peter Zurn, Shayne Zurn, Ben Zurn, Nick Birkhimer, Jack Birkhimer and Keith Lintula, The reader is Paul Birkhimer and the petitions are to be led by his granddaughters: Ali Lintula, Emily Zurn, Jen Zmuda and Andrea Newberger. Military rites were provided by the Flom-Twin Valley VFW Post #3818 of the American Legion and the Twin Valley Nesseth-Lein Post #431 of the American Legion and the MN Army National Guard Honor Guard.

Graveside Services were held at Walworth Baptist Cemetery, rural Ulen, on Monday at 3:00 PM.