Earl Leonard Bjurstrom (USAF – Retired), born June 28, 1935 in St. Paul, MN, passed on January 5th, 2025 at the age of 89 in Salida, CO. Preceded in death by Karen – his wife of over six decades, his daughters Cindy (Cobb) and Suzanne, and his grandsons Trevor and Randy. Survived by his sons Todd and David along with granddaughters Amber (Kirscher), Kayla (Danny Tesch), and Aubrey (Sheasley), grandson Timone (Dolan), and great-grandchildren Logan, Christian, Evan, Caden, and Luella. Spending his youth on the east side of St Paul, Minnesota, Earl forged friendships with the (Lake) Phalen Gang that would span his entire life, enjoying laughter and tear-filled rendezvous with these friends from the sun soaked beaches of the east coast to the highest mountains of the Rockies.
Music was equally important to Earl in his youth. He learned to play Hawaiian steel guitar at 12 years of age and continued to play in bands and events throughout and after high school. In 1954, Earl joined the MN Air National Guard, discovered his love of flying, and earned his Private Pilots License. He met his co-pilot to be, Karen, at a flying club and they wed on October 6, 1956. Earl then went on to receive his US Air Force Wings and a 2nd Lt. Air Force Commission at Laughlin AFB in Del Rio, TX before returning to the Minnesota ANG, as planned, to fly the F-89H (Scorpian) aircraft. In 1961, the Guard was put on active duty for the Berlin Crisis and in 1962 Earl volunteered for Extended Duty in the Air Force in order to fly jet fighters again. Earl and Karen sold the house in Minnesota and arrived at Florida’s McDill AFB just in time for the Cuban Missile Crisis and the assassination of President Kennedy. In 1964, Earl’s squadron was one of the first to receive the state-of-the-art McDonnell-Douglas F4 Phantom Fighter, which Earl would shortly after teach others to fly “Advanced Combat Tactics” in – something that made him very happy. Then in 1968-1969, Earl served in Vietnam as a Forward Air Controller and was awarded the Bronze Star and Air Medal. After, he returned to the Minnesota ANG to complete his Air Force retirement with 21 years of service and the rank of Major and went on to fly private jets for Pillsbury. During their time in Florida, Earl also obtained a B.S. in mathematics from the University of Tampa. After his time in the military and being employed as a pilot, Earl enjoyed 21 years of teaching Electronics and Computer Technology at a technical college in Minnesota. Earl and Karen went on to travel the southwest US, northern Minnesota, and the northern Yukon; design and build their first custom home in Minnesota; and lovingly raise their children and spend over 40 years fostering more than 100 children. At a youthful 55, Earl and Karen settled and set up their final custom home, a beautiful Adobe home affectionately named “Svenska Casa”, at the foothills of the 14’ers. He and Karen continued to travel with a month-long visit to Vietnam and many excursions throughout the southwest US – and then back home to go on teaching at Colorado Mountain College and CO Corrections while simultaneously continuing to provide a fostering safe haven for the children of families in conflict and turbulence. Earl and Karen spent over 60 years giving each other their love and had a very warm and loving home together. Earl spent his latter years regaling others with his many tales of adventure and mischief, planning and executing elaborate projects, and enjoying the weather and beautiful mountain views from their patios. In his final year, Earl’s flight plan faced its biggest challenges – with the loss of his bride and grandson (Randy). But now, he has returned home to the arms of his beautiful bride in the heavens. Oh, I have slipped the surly bonds of earth And danced the skies on laughter silvered wings… CLEAR FOR TAKE OFF There won’t be any services held per Earl’s wishes.
