Obituary of Col. Karl S. Landstrom

Col. Karl S. Landstrom of Arlington, Virginia, age 103, director of the Bureau of Land Management during the Kennedy administration, formerly administrative law hearing officer for the State of Virginia, an infantry battalion commander in France and Germany during World War II, and retired Army Colonel, passed away in Ozark, Alabama on January 27, 2013. Funeral services will be held in Ft. Myer Memorial Chapel in Arlington, VA at 1:00 P. M. (E.S.T.) Wednesday, March 20, 2013 with Reverend Bryan Mickle of the First Presbyterian Church ofArlington, VA officiating. Burial/Interment will follow with Military Honors in Arlington National Cemetery. Holman Funeral Home of Ozark, AL and Murphy Funeral Home of Arlington, VA are handling the funeral arrangements. Karl was born in Lebanon, Oregon to Jesse and Sigurd Landstrom on February 12, 1909. He earned his bachelor's degree in 1930 and master's degree in economics in 1932 from the University of Oregon. He received his Juris Doctorate of Law from George Washington University in 1959. He was a member of the Virginia State Bar Association since 1960. Commissioned as an infantry officer after ROTC training at the University of Oregon, COL. Landstrom served on active duty in 1935-37 in the Civilian Conservation Corps. He was a graduate of Command and General Staff College, Infantry School, Adjutant General's School, and Civil Affairs School. He continued his military career serving in World War II as commander of the 3rd battalion, 274th Infantry Regiment, 70th "Trailblazers" Infantry Division in Europe, followed by Reserve service as Chief of Staff of the 104th Infantry Division and commander of the 300th Civil Affairs Group at Ft. Myer, Virginia. His military honors include the Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Infantryman's Badge. As a Phi Beta Kappa graduate, he began his civilian government career in 1937 as an agricultural economist in the Department of Agriculture, continuing in land economics studies in the western states until 1949 when he joined the Bureau of Land Management in Portland, Oregon, transferring to Washington, D. C. in 1953 as a land use planner. In 1959-60 he served as consultant on public lands, mines, and mining to the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs, and in 1961 was appointed Bureau of Land Management director as well as Assistant to Secretary of the Interior serving until 1963. He retired from the Department of the Interior in 1970. COL. Landstrom was a contributor of letters to the editor of the Washington Post, the Washington Times, and other publications. He was member of the D. C. and Virginia State Bars, the Civil Affairs Association, the Oregon State Society of Washington, D. C., the University of Oregon Alumni Association, the National Association of CCC Alumni, Phi Beta Kappa, the Retired Officers Association, and the First Presbyterian Church of Arlington, Virginia. Karl was an active senior able to play tennis and golf up to the age of 95 and able to mow his grass at the age of 100. He enjoyed card games and board games and utilizing the internet for his daily stock trading. Karl is preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Sigurd Landstrom; his brother, Donald Landstrom; and his spouse of 72 years, Leora Landstrom. Karl is survived by his daughters, Maris Gutshall (Glenn) of Dale City, VA, and Karen Harlow (Les) of Ozark, AL; grandchildren, Roger Sebers, Leslie Canfield (Michael), Christopher Gutshall (Andrea), Jason Harlow (Leah); eight great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild; his sister-in-law, Virginia Landstrom of Hillsboro, OR. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and friends across the United States. The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Home Instead Senior Care Services of Arlington, VA, Oakview Manor Nursing Facility and staff of Ozark, AL, and Dr. Connie Chandler, The First Presbyterian Church of Arlington, VA, the 70th "Trailblazers" Infantry Division Association, and a special thank you to Elizabetta, his next door neighbor, for all the love and tender care given. Service Information