Harry Leif Hostvedt, 80

MILLSBORO - Harry Leif Hostvedt of Millsboro died Monday, Dec. 17, 2007, of a stroke. He was 80.

Mr. Hostvedt, a U.S. Army veteran, retired to Delaware 20 years ago after a career as an engineer with Otis Elevator in Philadelphia and Farmington, Conn.

He had been married for 58 years to Mary Charlotte Kline Hostvedt, whom he met in Akron, Ohio, in 1947 when he went home on military leave with her younger brother. They were married on Oct. 23, 1949, in Akron and had three sons.

During World War II, Mr. Hostvedt served in the Merchant Marines and the U.S. Army.

He and Mary raised their family in Hatboro, Pa., in suburban Philadelphia.

Mr. Hostvedt was active with his sons in the YMCA Indian Guide Program, Little League baseball and Pop Warner football.

Mr. Hostvedt was a big-hearted neighbor who raked leaves, ran errands and arranged medical care for those in his subdivision who could not get around.

He could build or repair anything, and lent his handyman talents to many projects.

He is a former member of the Board of Trustees of River Village II.

He was a member, and former board member, of Long Neck United Methodist Church.

Mr. Hostvedt was born on June 1, 1927, in Manteo, N.C.; his father, Leif, was a seaman, his mother, Bertha, was a housewife.

Each year, he returned to the island for a reunion of his high school classmates.

He also helped to orchestrate reunions among his former co-workers at Otis.

The Internet was Mr. Hostvedt's favorite means of communication and he sent a slew of e-mails each week to friends, and electronic greeting cards and games to his grandchildren.

Mr. Hostvedt enjoyed traveling.

In his later years, he and his wife visited Hawaii and took a cruise in Alaska.

He talked many times of taking a trip to Norway, the land of his ancestors.

When he was in his 70s, he went sky-diving for the first time, and proudly displayed the photograph that was taken of him in mid-air.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Hostvedt is survived by his sons, Donald of Stevensville, Va., Rick of Jamison, Pa., and Douglas of Philadelphia; seven grandchildren, Beth, Arne, Ole, Eric, Sean, Phoebe and Ava; and one great-granddaughter, Jillian.

The family will receive guests, and a viewing will be 2-4 p.m. Friday in Melson Funeral Home, Long Neck Road, Millsboro, with funeral services immediately following.

Instead of flowers, the family has requested donations to the Long Neck United Methodist Church, 32051 Long Neck Road, Millsboro, DE 19966.