Max D. Fulton

Jody Hane2021-06-05T11:09:57-05:00

Name: Max D. Fulton
Location of Birth: Columbus Junction, Iowa
Date of Birth: April 21, 1928
Date of Death: December 25, 2014 (86 years old)
Parents: Milo and Ruby Fulton
High School and Class: 1945 - Columbus High School
College: Iowa State University
Highest Rank:
Branch: Navy
Other Branch:
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Place Sworn In:
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Military Highlights:
Max followed his older brothers to serve in uniform at the close of World War II.

Wars Involved:
World War II

MIA / POW:

Civilian Life:
Max returned to Iowa following his Navy duty to work for Iowa Southern Utilities, where he met the boss's daughter, Anne Johnson.

Max and Anne were wed on June 16, 1952 while Max was studying Forestry at Iowa State University.

They moved from farmlands to woodlands, with stops in Michigan, Idaho, Wisconsin, and finally settling in Grand Rapids, Minnesota in 1966. Along the way , they raised eight children.

Max was extremely active in both the forestry industry and community his entire life. His forestry career culminated in 1993 as Director of Blandin Paper Company Lands and Forestry Division, where he was responsible for overseeing the management of over 300,000 acres of commercial and private woodland as well as annual procurement of over 500,000 cords of wood to supply both the Blandin Paper Company as well as the Blandin Wood Products Company.

Max served in state-level leadership positions within the Minnesota Timber Products Association and Tree Farm Program. Nationally he served on the Board of Directors for the American Pulpwood Association as well as the Society of American Foresters. As testament to his outstanding contributions to the forestry profession, Max was elected as "Fellow" within the Society of American Foresters in 1985.

Max's community involvement was expansive, ranging from leadership positions within local community service organizations to active participation in major community projects. Max was instrumental in setting the foundation for establishment and future direction of the Itasca County Family YMCA where he served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors during the planning and construction phase from 1980 to 1982. His engaged role with "The Y" resulted in Volunteer of the Year honors in 1997, the inaugural year for this award. He thoroughly enjoyed his time as Foundation President and member of the Governing Board of Deep Portage Conservation Reserve, a 6,100 acre working forest and outdoor education center located near Hackensack, Minnesota.

In his spare time, Max enjoyed the offerings of the North Woods and family life on Lake Pokegama. His untiring support of eight children involved in various school and sporting venues earns him the honorary title of "fan extraordinaire". He taught his children many things, but perhaps the most significant were the importance of family, personal responsibility, and to value citizenship and the woods. No one will ever know how many trees Max planted in his lifetime, but a million would be a good guess. He lived life well and left a mark where he could.

Max is preceded in death by son Ted in 1996 as well as brothers, Bill and Bob; and sisters, Hilda and Phyllis.

Max is survived by his wife of 63 years, Anne; sons, Mark (Jenny), Randy (Maureen), Matt (Tracey), Chris (Johnnie), Doug (Cindy), and David (Debbie); daughter, Theresa (Reid) Morrissey; twenty-two grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren.

Max is buried in Itasca Calvary Cemetery at Grand Rapids, Minnesota. (C-D-17-18)

Grave marker indicates date of birth was April 20, 1928, but obituary and information on Find A Grave has the birthdate as April 21, 1928.

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