Walter Arthur Egeland

Walter Egeland, age 91, died peacefully in his home in Sun City Center, Florida on November 14, 2016. He was born May 4, 1925 in Two Harbors, Minnesota to Andrew and Esther (Bergstrom) Egeland and was a lifelong resident of Two Harbors. Walter graduated from Two Harbors High School in June 1943 and the following week was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served in World War II as a frontline infantry rifleman in the amphibious assaults on Leyte, Philippines and Okinawa, Japan, where he was wounded by enemy machine gun and rifle fire. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star, Purple Heart and other medals. His unit was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. After the World War II, Walter attended the University of Minnesota Law School on the GI Bill of Rights. He graduated in 1952 and married Lylia Andersen, a nurse he met in Minneapolis. They moved to his hometown of Two Harbors where he was elected judge the same year, serving Lake and Cook counties. He served as judge until he retired due to severe injuries from an auto accident in 1984. He enjoyed woodworking, reading, politics and his wife's wonderful cooking. Walter and Lylia traveled the world where he was intensely interested in history and people. He was a super-fan of the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team from the time he attended his first professional game while recuperating from combat injuries. He was a champion of liberal causes and a proud member of Planned Parenthood and Amnesty International among other organizations. Walter was preceded in death by his wife Lylia, son Andrew, his parents, and his brother John Egeland. He is survived by his daughter Tina Hatch (Madison, Wisc), daughter-in-law Kathy (Guenter) Retkowski (St. Charles, Ill), grandchildren Reilly Hatch and MacKenzie and Max Retkowski. The family will hold a private memorial at a later date. Memorial gifts are suggested to the Two Harbors Area Foundation (222 E Superior St, Duluth MN 55802) or to your local public television or radio station. Acknowledgements may be sent to the family in care of Tina Hatch, 2618 Pennington Circle, Madison WI 53711.