Harlan Schlaak

Funeral services for Harlan A. Schlaak will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 20th at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland, Minnesota. Reverend Paul Andree will officiate. Visitation will be held from 4 until 8 p.m. Thursday, April 19th at church and again one hour prior to the service. Interment will be in St. Olaf Cemetery.

Harlan Alfred Schlaak, age 76, died unexpectedly Monday evening, April 16th at his home near New Richland. Harlan was born on August 16, 1941 to parents Alfred and Luella (Tesch) Schlaak in Waseca, Minnesota. He was raised in New Richland and graduated from New Richland High School. He was a member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, being baptized and confirmed there.

In 1960, he married Carol Frisk and became a member at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland. Together they raised their children on their farm near New Richland. He was a lifelong farmer, raising pigs and dairy cows, corn and soybean crops. He enjoyed tinkering with farm equipment and ‘Schlaak-erizing’ or improving modern machinery in his shop.

The Schlaak home has been a welcoming gathering place for friends and family for many years. Harlan loved spending time with his family and inviting people over for dinner. The highlight of every summer since 1996 was the Schlaak family camping trip to Yogi’s in Warrens, Wisconsin. He will be dearly missed.

Survivors include his wife, Carol; children, Gary (Jackie) Schlaak of Hartland and, Neil (Jill) Schlaak of New Richland, Keith (Kelly) Schlaak of New Richland, Donna Timm of New Richland, Linda (Darrin) Stadheim of Ellendale; daughter-in-law, Chris Schlaak of New Richland; family from Panama: AFS student Oscar Barrios (‘76-‘77) and José Barrios (came to MN in ‘89) and their families; grandchildren, Justin (Kim) Schlaak, Nathan (Lindsey) Schlaak, Brandon Schlaak, Gaven (Rachel) Schlaak, Nicholas Schlaak, Rhiana Scibilia, Katy Scibilia, Tony (Cassie) Schlaak, Kelli (Andy) VanHal, Colton (fiancé Alyssa) Schlaak, Anna Schlaak (boyfriend Carter), Paige (Taylor) Holland, Chad Schlaak (girlfriend Jess), David Schlaak (girlfriend Chelsea), Dustin Schlaak, Isabel, Adalyn, and Emilia Stadheim; great-grandchildren, Kordell, Gabrielle, Dakota, Aidan, Ryan, Ashton, Owen, Evelyn, Hadley, Jack, Alex, Lydia, Nolan, Wyatt, Kage, and two great grandbabies on the way in May; brother, Lyle (Diane) Schlaak of Sioux Falls, SD; brother-in-law, Curt (Joanne) Frisk of Dodge Center, MN; as well as several nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Harlan was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Luella Schlaak; parents-in-law, Richard and Isabel Frisk; sister, Judy (Kenny) Leyk; brother, Kenny Schlaak; sister, Luann in infancy.