Ellsworth Tukua

Funeral services for H. Ellsworth Tukua, age 95, of Albert Lea will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 12, 2012 at Cross of Glory Lutheran Church.  Rev. Dennis Frank will officiate.  Interment will be at Hartland Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 4-7:00 p.m. Wednesday, April 11th at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.  

Ellsworth died Sunday, April 8, 2012 at Mayo Clinic Health System Albert Lea.

H. Ellsworth Tukua was born on October 14, 1916 to Erick and Emma (Madson) Tukua in Hartland Township.  He grew up on his parents’ farm in Hartland Township and attended rural school District #10.  In 1935, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and worked with the U.S. Forest Service in the Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota.  In 1938 Ellsworth began working for a construction contractor operating heavy equipment.  On July 20, 1940 Ellsworth was united in marriage to Janet Marlin at the Little Brown Church in the Vale in Nashua, Iowa.  In 1947, Ellsworth and his brother, Eugene, formed a partnership as Tukua Brothers Construction, and in 1958, Ellsworth and Janet became full owners, changing the company name to Tukua Drainage Construction, which he continued to operate until his retirement at age 75.  Ellsworth’s reputation was that of a perfectionist, a trait that his customers most appreciated.  Ellsworth and Janet spent their married life living in Hartland where they raised four children.  They were members of Cross of Glory Lutheran Church and Ellsworth served as treasurer and also mayor of Hartland for several years.  Ellsworth was hard working yet always willing to lend a helping hand.  He loved hunting, fishing, playing cards, family gatherings and traveling around the country.  He was a devoted husband and father and will be dearly missed by his family and friends.  Memories of him, his wonderful sense of humor and hearty laugh will be forever cherished.

Survivors include his children; Lowell (Deborah) Tukua of TN, Kathryn (Dougal) Huntington of Shakopee, and Helen Tukua of Albert Lea, son-in-law Bruce Langlie of Hartland; grandchildren Terri Langlie (Richard) Sheldon, Shane (Dawn) Huntington, Heather Huntington, Mason Neste, Erik (Karen) Tukua, Kirk (Robin) Tukua, David Tukua, and Josiah Tukua; nine great-grandchildren, sister-in-law Oriale Tukua; and many nieces and nephews.

Ellsworth was preceded in death by his parents, beloved wife Janet, daughter RuthAnn Langlie, sisters Esther Thofson, Clarice Thofson, Stella Legreid, Myrtle Hoeve and Alice Tukua, brothers George, Eugene, and Norman Tukua; and father and mother-in-law Leroy and Maggie (Pollock) Marlin.