Obituary of Calvin A. Haworth

Calvin Albert Haworth, age 96, passed away due to COVID-19 on Tuesday Oct. 6, 2020, at the Benedictine Health Center Covid-19 unit. He was born Oct. 3, 1924 in Ottawa, Kansas, to Joseph and Bertha Haworth, the fifth of six sons. Cal served in the U.S Army for three years, including in World War II and 12 consecutive months in a war zone. After his service to the country, Cal attended Ottawa University in Ottawa, Kansas and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1949. Cal also studied voice at the Detroit Conservatory of Music and Ottawa University, where he sang in the male quartet. His love of music carried through for many decades, and he gave voice lessons and he sang in many church choirs and men’s groups.

During his junior year at OU, Cal was united in marriage to Ola Jean Kinderdick in Lyons, Kansas on August 4, 1947. After living and working in multiple states, Cal and Ola Jean moved to Duluth, Minn. in 1967, where Cal became the manager of KDAL Radio, as well as the Vice President of KDAL Inc. Cal and Ola Jean bought and operated Somebody’s House Restaurant for four years, and later owned and operated both Kenwood Video and Piedmont Video stores.

Cal and his daughter founded the St. Louis County chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving in 1982. He held several offices, including president and executive director, of MADD Minnesota. Over his decades of work with MADD, he received letters of commendation from the Minnesota State Senate, Minnesota House of Representatives and the Minnesota State Patrol. He was awarded the Dr. William Kosiak Memorial Award in 1999 in recognition of outstanding volunteer service to crime victims in Minnesota.

Cal served on the Boards of many organizations, including the Duluth Chamber of Commerce, the Duluth Symphony Orchestra, the Kiwanis Club, the Fatherless Boy Association, Rehab Center for Chemical Dependency, Twin Ports Summer Theatre, and the Community Relations Board for the Federal Prison.

One of Cal’s favorite pastimes was taking in wildlife and rehabilitating it back into the wild. He was licensed by the DNR after becoming a Duluth Zoo Docent, and the result was the rehabilitation of many deer, raccoons, a fox, squirrels, coyotes and a multitude of other animals.

He took great pride in the accomplishments of his wife, children and grandchildren. Cal is survived by his wife of 73 years, Ola Jean of Duluth, Minn., his three children Susan (Donald) Peterson of Fort Collins, Colo., Patty Wheeler of Duluth, Minn., and Brent (Mary) Haworth, also of Duluth, Minn. Cal is also survived by his nine grandchildren: Bret Peterson, Prent Peterson, Kelly Grgas-Wheeler, Kara Goucher, Kendall Schoomeester, Amy Kebriaei, Kelly Haworth, Wade Haworth and Katie Albert; as well as 21 great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, Cal is preceded in death by his five brothers: Prent, Howard, Richard, David, and Ray Haworth.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the nurses and aides that tended to Cal at Safe Harbor of the BHC system, especially during its transition to a COVID-19 unit.

Memorials may be directed to Lakeview Covenant Church at 1001 Jean Duluth Rd, Duluth MN 55804. Family services are provided by the Cremation Society of Minnesota Duluth. A memorial service will be held at a later date.