Roger Alvin Harju, 81 of Esko passed away on Friday, December 15, 2023 in St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth. He was born May 1, 1942 in Superior, Wisconsin to Swen and Elaine Harju.

Roger was a lifelong resident of the Kettle River and Esko areas. He graduated from Barnum High School in 1960 and then was married to Judy Sarvela to whom 6 children were born during this union. Roger served in the Army National Guards from 1963-1969. On July 10, 1982 Roger married Alice Luomanen and enjoyed 38 years together until her passing. Roger was a member of Apostolic Lutheran Church in Esko. He enjoyed hunting deer, fishing, baseball-Twins, and loved to watch birds and be with his cats. He worked as a pipe fitter at Conwed and then worked at Superwood Corporation until retirement.

Roger was preceded in death by his wife Alice; ex-wife Judy; his parents Swen and Elaine; daughter Melanie; and son Michael.

He is survived and will be sadly missed by his children, Lance (Candy) Harju of Moose Lake, Lee (Kris) Harju of Sturgeon Lake, Lyle (Lavita) Harju of Wyandotte, Oklahoma, and Michelle (John) Graham of Cambridge; step-sons, Randy (Peggy Schmidt) Broady of Cloquet and Daniel (Patricia) Broady of St. Cloud; six grandchildren, Alyssa, Brandon, Payton, Michael, Lynzie and Daniel; three great grandchildren, Aurora, Arlo, and Bellamy; several step-grandchildren; 3 brothers, Kenny Harju of Kettle River, Conrad (Gail) Harju of Mahtowa, Kevin Harju of Duluth; 2 sisters, Helen (Robert) Madsen of Wellsville, Pennsylvania, and Lois Desmedt of Anchorage, Alaska; and many other family members and friends.

Visitation will be held 11a.m.-12 p.m., Thursday, December 21, 2023, in Hamlin-Hansen-Kosloski Funeral Home, Moose Lake with the service following at 12 p.m. Pastor Nathan Juntunen from the Apostolic Lutheran Church will be officiating. After lunch, Roger will be placed to rest at Holy Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in Kettle River.