Jarla Enstrom
Jarla Merlien (Skadsem-Schmidt) Enstrom, age 82, died on Tuesday, January 3, 2012 at her home in Caledonia with her daughter by her side.
Jarla was born on September 14, 1929, the daughter of Melvin and Elida (Olafson) Skadsem. She was baptized and confirmed at Faith Lutheran Church of Black Hammer in rural Spring Grove. Jarla was a graduate of Mabel High School and the Minneapolis Business College. She married Gerald H. Schmidt in 1949 in St. Louis Park, Minn. and to this union two children were born, Gary and Vicki. After spending 7 years in Anchorage, Alaska, and selling their general store in Rabbit Creek, Jarla and the children returned to Minnesota where she worked in the secretarial field for many years. In 1963 she married Earl G. Enstrom and they both worked in the Hopkins and Minneapolis area until moving to Caledonia, Minn. in 1978. Jarla worked approximately 15 years as a typesetter for the Caledonia Argus newspaper, as well as a number of years for the Spring Grove Herald. At the age of 73 she began working for Northern Engraving in Spring Grove, Minn.. She continued to work there for two years until a second bout with breast cancer forced her to retire. Jarla enjoyed bowling, crocheting, hunting, fishing, annual vacations with her husband, Earl, playing cards and especially Michigan Rummy, computer work and genealogical research.
She is survived by her daughter, Vicki Olson of Caledonia; four grandchildren: Scott and Jason Schmidt, Amy Olson (Mike Regan) and R. Joseph Olson; two great-grandchildren, Miles and Kyrstin Schmidt, many nieces and nephews, one step-nephew: Kenneth Enstrom (Sandy), one great-step-nephew: Christopher Enstrom (Amanda). She was preceded in death by her parents; Melvin and Elida Skadsem, her first husband Gerald; her son Gary; and her husband Earl; seven brothers: Reuben, Myron, Eldor, Willis, Melvin Junior, Terry and Dean; two sisters: Eileen and Wanda; and two sisters-in-law, Mavis and Evelyn, a niece; Sharon Knutson Gannon and six nephews; Darryl, Donne, Kevin, Jimmy Dean and Randy Skadsem, and Ryan Knutson.
There will be a visitation held at the Jandt-Fredrickson Funeral Home in Caledonia on Friday, January 13, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm. Memorial services for Jarla will be held at Faith Lutheran Church of Black Hammer in Spring Grove, Minn. on Saturday, January 14, 2012 at 1:00 pm with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Interment, along with her husband Earl’s cremains will be in the church cemetery followed by military honors.
