Harl Henry Burzlaff

1935 - 2025

West Concord - Harl Henry Burzlaff, 89, of West Concord, Minnesota, passed away on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at the farm where he was born.

He was born December 31, 1935, the son of Henry and Margaret (Cartwright) Burzlaff. Harl graduated from West Concord High School as Valedictorian of his class in 1953. He farmed for a couple years, then joined the US Army. His tour took him to Germany where he put on many walking miles while surveying. Harl was in the Army choir and his love of singing, bass, carried over to the church choir after his discharge. His love of music also led him to square dancing, which is how he met his wife, Carol Kriesel, in Owatonna. They married on December 16, 1962, at St. John Lutheran Church in Owatonna.

Harl was a precise, innovative farmer with a passion for cattle, crops, and commodity marketing. He was also an excellent blacksmith and crafted tools to enhance farming. His love of reading and knowledge was endless, and his daughters and grandchildren could always count on him to have an answer for any topic.

The community benefited from his passions with his serving on the West Concord Library Board, West Concord Historical Society, Southeastern Minnesota Masons, Young Farm Group, and several farm boards, and repairing televisions and radios in the winter.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Carol Burzlaff of West Concord; daughters, Lori (and Doug) Wiegrefe of Rice Lake, Wisconsin, Ann (and Jeff) Traxler of Kenyon, Karla (and Stuart) Burzlaff-Meyer Smith of Long Prairie, Crystal (and Bill) Winter of West Concord; 13 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Evelyn Peterson, and his son-in-law Charles Burzlaff-Meyer.

Memorials are preferred to Masonic Lodge of Rochester, West Concord Historical Society, and to the West Concord Fire Department.

The family thanks Freedom Home Care and St. Croix Hospice caregivers for Dad's care.