Harlan Eugene Else

Harlan Eugene Else was born in a small four bed hospital in Canton, South Dakota on May 29, 1943. He was delivered by the same doctor who delivered his mother, Ardis McVay Else, nineteen years earlier.

Harlan started school in first grade in a small school in the village of Brandon, South Dakota. Harlan dropped out of Sibley, Iowa High School at the beginning of his junior year.

He married LaVonne Buysman and started working full time at a small local grocery store. After three months, Harlan went back to high school because his Grandpa McVay believed in him and helped him financially. He went on to graduate from high school in Sibley, Iowa in 1961. Eight days after earning his high school diploma, Harlan enrolled in Buena Vista College in Storm Lake, Iowa where he graduated two and a half years later in 1963. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Education in1963.

Harlan began his teaching career as a sixth-grade teacher in Jefferson, Iowa at the age of twenty. He earned his master’s degree from the University of South Dakota and went on to become an Elementary principal in Storm Lake, Iowa and then Urbandale, Iowa. He then became an Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Newton, Iowa. After earning his PhD from Iowa State University in 1977, Harlan served as Superintendent of Schools for six years in Carroll, Iowa and then six years in Fort Lupton, Colorado. He spent most of his career as Superintendent of Cheyenne Mountain School District Twelve in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Following his retirement from public education in 2006, Harlan accepted an offer from Pastor Stewart McWilliams to become Pastor of Adult Ministries at Fellowship of the Rockies Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. During his next twelve years at F.O.R., Harlan served in a variety of roles including counseling, formation of small groups and executive pastor. In addition to learning the functions of the church, Harlan experienced life changing growth in his faith due to his acceptance of Jesus Christ as his personal Savior.

It may not surprise anyone who knew Harlan that he loved cars. He also deeply loved his family.

Harlan is survived by his loving wife, Karen Else, his three daughters, Shelly (Tom) Prenger, Wendy (John) Sparks, Marne (Brad) Busatto and two stepsons, Casey McPeek, and Kevin (Sarah) McPeek. He was a loving grandfather of nine grandchildren, Tony (Chris) Prenger, Mark (Marc) Prenger, Chris (Kelli) Prenger, Tyson (Christine) Sparks, Tanner (Jade) Sparks, Kate (Pulak) Goyal, Brooke Busatto, Everett McPeek and Reid McPeek. Harlan was blessed with a precious great granddaughter, Skylar Sparks.

In lieu of flowers, the family of Harlan Else kindly requests that memorial donations be made in his honor to either:

Fellowship of the Rockies Church- Kids Program, 1625 South 8th Street, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80905

Canyon Hospice, 4850 Hahns Peak Drive, Suite 100, Loveland, Colorado 80538