Harlan Joseph Quamme, 73, a second generation American of Norwegian-Swedish descent, died Oct. 9, 2009. He was born March 26, 1936 to the late Joseph Hanson and Grace Marie Carlson Quamme, in Minneapolis, Minn. He was graduated from Edison High School there, and while in high school, joined the Minnesota Air Guard. He left the University of Minnesota to enter the United States Air Force cadet program where he was graduated number one in his class. He won the Caterpillar Award twice for ejecting out of a jet with a safe parachute landing. He returned to the Minnesota Guard and the University of Minnesota.

He served in guard units in Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, and Georgia, retiring from the 315th Military Air Wing in Charleston, S.C. as Lt. Colonel in August, 1986. He earned an MBA at Georgia State University and was with the Federal Aviation Administration as air carrier inspector for 10 years. At 50, he became a pilot for United Airlines, until Parkinson's Disease forced his retirement 10 years later. He enjoyed fast cars, fireworks, model airplanes, movies, sweets, and talking. Services were at the First Baptist Church, Peachtree City with interment at Magnolia Baptist Church, Whigham, Ga. Survivors include his wife, Frankie Jane Collins Quamme, whom he met while at Spence Field, Moultrie; a son, Scott and Cindy Quamme, Peachtree City; daughters, Colleen M. Swartsenburg, and Kim and Rich Miller, all of Peachtree City, Carolyn and Tim Shirey, Fayetteville; grandchildren, Rachel, Jonathan, Joshua and Rebekah Shirey, Fayetteville, Zachary, Eric and Karissa Quamme, and Owen, Evan, and Lauren Miller, all of Peachtree City; a brother, Glenn and Patrice Olander-Quamme, Plymouth, Minn.; sisters, Sonja Larkin, Loveland, Colo., and Norma and Denny Munson, Wyoming, Minn.; and an uncle, Jacob Kvamme, Bergen, Norway. Memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church of Peachtree City Bridge, Parkinson Disease Research, or the Magnolia Baptist Church Building Fund, Whigham, Ga.