Harun Magnuson's Celebration of Life (Virtual)

Harun Magnuson's Celebration of Life

You are invited to a virtual gathering to celebrate the life of our beloved Harun Magnuson.

We'll be sharing stories, memories, and laughter as we honor his legacy and share the impact he had on us all.

Join us for this special occasion and connect with many of the people who loved and walked alongside him during his lifetime.

Zoom link will be shared via email upon reservation.

Please bring a candle to light for the service.

TIMING:
10am PST
11am MST
12pm CST
1pm EST

QUESTIONS?
Rachimah Magnuson (626) 298-1320 / rachimahmagnuson@yahoo.com
Marianni Groves (425) 829-6355 / mariannigroves@gmail.com

OBITUARY:

Gerald Harun Hamilton Magnuson was born in Denver, Colorado, on March 21, 1945 to Ralph and Clora Magnuson, Swedish and Irish immigrants, growing up alongside his sister, Joanne Magnuson. 

At the age of five, Harun faced a harrowing battle with polio, which left him temporarily paralyzed from the waist down. Against all odds, he made a full recovery, demonstrating an indomitable will and strength that would define his life. Despite the late effects of polio, Harun excelled as an athlete, receiving All City recognition, which led to a football scholarship at Stanford University, earning a B.S. in Accounting and Developmental Economics, and later an M.A in Economics and International Development at the University of Wisconsin.

After graduating from Stanford, Harun joined the Peace Corps and spent two transformative years in American Samoa, as the first volunteer to serve there. His adventurous spirit led him to explore the Australian Outback and deepen his understanding of the world. However, it was his spiritual faith that mattered most to him. A devoted connection to God guided every chapter of his life, providing him with strength, purpose, and a profound sense of peace. This spiritual journey brought him to SUBUD, a nondenominational spiritual organization that encourages people to experience the divine through a practice called Latihan Kejiwaan.

Hamilton (his first Subud name) married Meariam Lewis (now Sulfiati Magnuson) and together, they raised three beloved daughters while living in Colorado, California, Sydney, Australia and Washington. Harun (his second Subud name), always had a love of gardening which he shared with his daughters and developed a love of theater and dance.  After 22 years of marriage, they divorced. Harun later married Susannah Ortego, and they returned to the high mountains of his home state of Colorado, not far from Salida where his father and uncles had a quartz mine where he worked as a teen during summers. 

Harun and Susannah joined a small SUBUD community in Crestone, CO. There he built a home with his own two hands over a period of seven dedicated years, using a sustainable and innovative material called, “papercrete.” In 2022, they moved to Chatsworth, Georgia, where they continued to live out their values of service and faith, and found joy in volunteering at a local animal shelter. 

On January 20, 2025, when the planets were aligned, Harun passed peacefully surrounded by his loved ones. Harun is survived by his wife, three devoted daughters, and two cherished grandchildren. 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to SUBUD USA (subudusa.org) or the Humane Society (humanesociety.org).