Irvin L. Gartland, 81, 5625 Sandpiper Drive, Stevens Point, died Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013, at Ministry St. Michael’s Hospital in Stevens Point.
A celebration of his life will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Stevens Point, with the Rev. Thomas Petersen officiating. Burial will be in St. John Lutheran Cemetery in the town of Arlington near Arlington, Minn., at 11 a.m. Tuesday, with visitation there beginning at 10 a.m.
Visitation will be at Boston Funeral Home from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday and at the church from11 a.m. Monday until the service.
Condolences may be offered online at www.bostonfuneralhome.net.
Mr. Gartland was born July 27, 1931, in Minneapolis, Minn., a son of the late George and Minnie (Tennermann) Gartland. He grew up in Minneapolis, Minn., and graduated from school there in 1950.
He joined the U.S. Navy on Feb. 24, 1951, in Minneapolis, Minn., serving at Patuxent Naval Air Station in Maryland and in North Africa. He received an honorable discharge in 1955.
He was married to Esther M. Busch on Nov. 21, 1953.
Following his service time, they settled in the Minneapolis, Minn., area. In the 1950s he worked for the Star Tribune and in the 1960s was a blacksmith. In the 1970s he started a sales career, moving to Stevens Point in 1977. Among other businesses, he worked for 10 years for Farmers Insurance. He retired in 1996.
Mr. Gartland was a past president of the Stevens Point Morning Lions Club and life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He volunteered as a firefighter for more than 10 years and was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church, being involved as elder/lay minister, helping with Communion and on numerous church boards.
Survivors include his wife; four sons, Wayne (Susan), Chisago City, Minn., Kurtis (Sue), Morris, Minn., Scott (Gracia), Holly Springs, N.C., and Keith (Kathey), Richfield, Minn.; one daughter, Colleen (Barry) Frey, Eveleth, Minn.; eight grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.
He was also preceded in death by one brother, Gordon; and one sister, Margaret.
