Harold Davis Einarsen

Harold Davis Einarsen (age 90) went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on May 23, 2018, while at home in Fort Collins, Colorado, due to sudden heart failure. He was born in Denver, CO on September 12, 1927 to Albert Carl Einarsen and Pauline Lucille (Clippinger) Einarsen. As a young boy, living in a house on York Street in Denver near the National Western Stock Yards, Harold remembers times when the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus arrived in town with everything hauled inside the long row of railroad cars. After setting up the circus big top tents, everyone came parading down York Street right in front of their house with elephants, lions, tigers and flamboyant circus performers all in tow. While growing up, Harold's family operated a diverse vegetable truck farm at the corner of 38th and Kipling in Wheatridge, CO and delivered cash crops each year to the Denargo Market in downtown Denver. The farmstead is now owned by the City of Wheatridge and was developed a few years ago as Discovery Park. The mascot for Harold's high school was (and still is) the "Wheatridge Farmers". After serving in the U.S. Navy in World War II, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Husbandry (1949) from Colorado A&M College (now CSU). He married his college sweetheart, Shirley M. Phillips in August 1949 in their home town of Wheatridge, CO. Harold and Shirley spent the bulk of their years in Fort Collins, first in town on Taft Hill Road, and later dwelling on and operating three different farms in Fort Collins and Timnath. Shirley preceded Harold in death in 1998 after a long and courageous battle with cancer. Harold's first job was with Mesa College in Grand Junction, CO, teaching G.I. students who had returned from World War II. He then served in the agricultural field for the CSU Extension Service as a County Extension Agent and 4-H Agent. After selling bulk walnut shell products for the effective sealing of oil well fissures during the drilling process (throughout New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma), Harold and Shirley moved back to Fort Collins in the mid-1950s to raise their family and to farm. Harold was general manager of the American Fertilizer and Chemical Company, which serviced many northern Colorado farms and ranches. In 1962 Harold began irrigated farming again in partnership with Spring Creek Farms along Timberline Road south of Prospect. The Einarsen family first lived on the farmstead now preserved as the historic Jessup Farm. While crop farming in Fort Collins and Timnath for 16 years, Harold served as president of the Fort Collins Sugar Beet Growers Association and received the "High Ten" Growers Award, as well as "Sugar King" for the entire District. He served as president of the Fort Collins Conservation District and as a member of the Larimer County Agricultural Stabilization Committee. Harold was a co-founder of the Harmony Hustlers 4-H Club of Timnath, and later served on the county 4-H Foundation. While on the FFA Chapter Advisory Board, he often invited Vocational Agriculture students to brand cattle, vaccinate, ear tag, castrate and dehorn calves at the Einarsen place, to allow students hands-on learning opportunities. He served for many years on the Board of Directors of the Soapstone Grazing Association along the Colorado-Wyoming border, where he grazed cattle and hunted pronghorn antelope, mule deer and elk. In 1976, Harold entered the real estate profession and with his wife, Shirley, owned their own real estate brokerage firm from 1986 until retirement in 2006. Harold was very active as a member of Lions Clubs International and spent 64 years in service for those in need. He held virtually every office in the Fort Collins Lions Club and was awarded the coveted Melvin Jones Fellow which is the highest award given in Lionism. He also received the Colorado Lions Foundation Humanitarian Award. Harold was also active as a volunteer for Poudre Valley Hospital and the Aspen Club. He is survived by four children, 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren, as well as a brother, Robert Einarsen; and sisters-in-law, Mildred Einarsen and Marian Phillips. His four children and spouses include: David and Deborah Einarsen (Fort Collins, CO); Richard and Diane Fournier (Centennial, CO); Daniel and Susan Einarsen (Centennial, CO); and Ralph and Dawn Brent (Genoa, CO). Harold and Shirley’s grandchildren and great grandchildren include: Heidi Bradley (Loveland, CO) - Dillon, Xander, Ava; Chad and Melissa Einarsen (Cleveland, Tennessee); Matthew and Lacey Brent (Arriba, CO) – William (deceased), Graidy, Memphis; Jason and Joelle Brent (Nunn, CO) – Brandon, Kaylynn, Jenna; Benjamin and Kendra Brent (Genoa, CO) – Dawson, Evan, Charlotte; Nathan and Laura Andrews (Kirk, CO) – Sadie, Tessa; Nathaniel and Daryl Ann Einarsen (Parker, CO) – Conner, Lil Sister; Joshua and Amy Cox (Aurora, CO) – William, Henry; Eric Einarsen (Centennial, CO); Christopher Fournier (Centennial, CO) Also preceding Harold in death was Lois Atwood, a very special family friend who was a great encouragement and helper in numerous situations over the years. Harold was a dedicated Christian and loved the Lord Jesus Christ. He was a very active member of First Baptist Church (LifePointe) since 1956 and served on many boards and committees. In recent years he especially enjoyed the in-depth Sunday Bible study class taught by Steve Schmutzer. He loved the great outdoors of God's Creation while hunting, fishing and camping in wild and secluded areas of mountains, rangeland and forests. Harold will be missed - not only by family but many friends and colleagues whom he loved and enjoyed with great fellowship, fun, food, much laughter, mutual encouragement and prayer. Memorial contributions may be made to LifePointe's missionary outreach program; or to Through the Bible Radio; or to the Fort Collins Lions Foundation Permanent Endowment Fund, in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive, Fort Collins, CO 80524.

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Harold Davis Einarsen

September 12, 1927 - May 23, 2018