Born July 3, 1920 in Mazon, IL to the late Henry and Mary Ann "Mayme" (Brusnighan) Tjelle. Harry owned and operated Tjelle Oil Co. in Gardner for many years and had worked for Fatlan Trucking. In earlier years, he was a farmer and had a corn shelling business. He was a member of the St. Lawrence Catholic Church and their Men's Club in South Wilmington, IL. He was a former member of the Gardner Grade School Board. He was an avid bowler and golfer.