Harry Knute Nystrom, age 92, a resident of the Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center in Rockford, died at home on Sunday, August 2. He was born on June 19, 1917 in Chicago to Knute and Garda Nystrom.

He grew up in Chicago and graduated from the Free Church Academy. For over 44 years he worked for Glidden/Central Soya in Chicago where he began as a a mail clerk and worked his way up to Traffic Manager. On June 1, 1940 he married LaVerne Pearson. They lived in Chicago until moving to Bethany Beach, Michigan in 1980 and then moved to Rockford in 2003.

Harry was a charter member of Northwest Baptist Church in Chicago. In retirement he enjoyed woodworking, house painting, and most of all spending time with his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife LaVerne, three daughters, Lynn (Elden) Stromberg of Springfield, IL, Nancy (Jeffrey) Sheffield of Wayne, NJ and Jane (Gordon) Harbeck of Hanover Park, IL and seven grandchildren, Kimberly (Brad) Babcock, Kristin (Andy) Bargeron, David (Arlene) Stromberg, Matthew Sheffield, Joshua Harbeck, Beth (Adrian) Carrion and Sarah Harbeck. He was "Morfar" to his three great-grandchildren, Hunter, Justin and Amanda Babcock.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Henry and Roland and a sister, Helen Johnson.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, August 15 at 11:00 a.m. at First Evangelical Free Church, 2223 N. Mulford Rd. in Rockford. Friends may visit with the family from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Interment will be held privately.

At the family's request, please omit flowers. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Kids Alive International, 2507 Cumberland Drive, Valparaiso, IN 46383; or to Fairhaven Christian Retirement Center, 3470 North Alpine Road, Rockford, IL 61114 (www.fairhaven.cc).