1919
Carl
2010
Carl A. Bakkum
December 16, 1919 — February 9, 2010
Carl Anton Bakkum was born December 16, 1919, in Ulen, MN, to Henry and Clara (Christianson) Bakkum. Carl was baptized and confirmed at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Ulen.
Carl attended school in Ulen, where he was one of the star athletes in football, basketball and baseball. He graduated with the class of 1939. He attended North Dakota State Agricultural College, Fargo, for one year where he studied mechanical engineering. He was also a member of the Reserve Officer Training Corps.
Carl enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in October of 1941 and was trained as a radio operator on a B-24 bomber. Carl served with the 98th bomb group US, the "Pyramiders", and worked with the British 8th Army in North Africa. Carl saw action during WW II in North Africa, Italy, Germany, France and Sicily. He participated in bombing missions in Ploesti, Romania, Italy, France and Germany. Carl was honorably discharged on September 15, 1945, as a staff sergeant with multiple medals, awards and battle stars. Carl was very proud of his military service.
On January 28, 1945, while on leave, Carl married Florence Stumbo, in a small family celebration at her parents farm in rural Ulen. Carl returned to Italy and the war until September 1945. Their marriage was blessed with four children, Robert, Steven, Kathleen and Roselyn. He was proud of the fact that they had lived in the same house in their north Moorhead neighborhood their entire married life.
Carl worked as a mail carrier for many years in Moorhead. When Carl retired from the Moorhead Post Office, he and Florence spent the next twenty-five winters in Apache Junction, AZ. They made many good friends and spent time with their siblings, but missed the children and grandchildren in Minnesota. They moved to Linden Tree and Eventide Lutheran Home, Moorhead, when they needed more help with their daily activity. They enjoyed the many friendships they made there over the years. Florence died December 10, 2002. Carl entered into eternal life on Tuesday, February 9, 2010, at MeritCare Palliative Care Unit, Fargo, at ninety years of age. His warmth, openness and sense of humor will be missed.
Carl is survived by his four children, Robert (Georgia) Bakkum, Lake Park, MN, Steven (Joyce) Bakkum, Hutchinson, MN, Kathleen (Ted) Doe, Tucson, AZ, and Roselyn (Steve) Johnson, San Antonio, TX; nine grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and one great-grandchild due in June.
In addition to his wife, Carl was preceded in death by a brother, Chester; and sisters, Henrietta Clarice and Marion Iverson; and a grandson, Tyler Johnson.
Visitation for Carl will be Friday, February 12, 2010, from 5 - 7 PM, in Korsmo Funeral Chapel, Moorhead.
His funeral, with full military honors, will be Saturday, February 13, 2010, at 2 PM, in Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Moorhead.
Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Moorhead.
Carl attended school in Ulen, where he was one of the star athletes in football, basketball and baseball. He graduated with the class of 1939. He attended North Dakota State Agricultural College, Fargo, for one year where he studied mechanical engineering. He was also a member of the Reserve Officer Training Corps.
Carl enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in October of 1941 and was trained as a radio operator on a B-24 bomber. Carl served with the 98th bomb group US, the "Pyramiders", and worked with the British 8th Army in North Africa. Carl saw action during WW II in North Africa, Italy, Germany, France and Sicily. He participated in bombing missions in Ploesti, Romania, Italy, France and Germany. Carl was honorably discharged on September 15, 1945, as a staff sergeant with multiple medals, awards and battle stars. Carl was very proud of his military service.
On January 28, 1945, while on leave, Carl married Florence Stumbo, in a small family celebration at her parents farm in rural Ulen. Carl returned to Italy and the war until September 1945. Their marriage was blessed with four children, Robert, Steven, Kathleen and Roselyn. He was proud of the fact that they had lived in the same house in their north Moorhead neighborhood their entire married life.
Carl worked as a mail carrier for many years in Moorhead. When Carl retired from the Moorhead Post Office, he and Florence spent the next twenty-five winters in Apache Junction, AZ. They made many good friends and spent time with their siblings, but missed the children and grandchildren in Minnesota. They moved to Linden Tree and Eventide Lutheran Home, Moorhead, when they needed more help with their daily activity. They enjoyed the many friendships they made there over the years. Florence died December 10, 2002. Carl entered into eternal life on Tuesday, February 9, 2010, at MeritCare Palliative Care Unit, Fargo, at ninety years of age. His warmth, openness and sense of humor will be missed.
Carl is survived by his four children, Robert (Georgia) Bakkum, Lake Park, MN, Steven (Joyce) Bakkum, Hutchinson, MN, Kathleen (Ted) Doe, Tucson, AZ, and Roselyn (Steve) Johnson, San Antonio, TX; nine grandchildren; twelve great-grandchildren; and one great-grandchild due in June.
In addition to his wife, Carl was preceded in death by a brother, Chester; and sisters, Henrietta Clarice and Marion Iverson; and a grandson, Tyler Johnson.
Visitation for Carl will be Friday, February 12, 2010, from 5 - 7 PM, in Korsmo Funeral Chapel, Moorhead.
His funeral, with full military honors, will be Saturday, February 13, 2010, at 2 PM, in Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Moorhead.
Burial will be in Riverside Cemetery, Moorhead.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Carl A. Bakkum, please visit our flower store.
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