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Pall bearers, from left, current Minnesota Twins players Joe Nathan, Michael Cuddyer, former teammate Frank Quilici, current Twins player Justin Morneau, Twins manager Ron Gardenhire, Paul Molitor, right, follow former Twins player Tony Oliva, as they lea The Arizona Republic, David Wallace) ** MARICOPA COUNTY OUT; MAGS OUT; NO SALES , Associated Press
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Minnesota Twins second baseman Alexi Casilla walks into Christ's Church of the Valley for Hall of Famer and former Twins' Harmon Killebrew's funeral, Friday, May 20, 2011, in Peoria, Ariz. Killebrew died Tuesday, May 17 of esophageal cancer. He was 74. The Arizona Republic, David Wallace, Associated Press
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From left to right, pall bearers, current Minnesota Twins players Joe Nathan, Michael Cuddyer, former teammate Frank Quilici, current Twins player Justin Morneau, former teammate Tony Oliva, and Paul Molitor, lead the casket of baseball great Harmon Kille Ross D. Franklin, Associated Press
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Baseball Hall of Fame member Frank Robinson, left, and wife, Barbara, arrive for the funeral of baseball great Harmon Killebrew Friday, May 20, 2011, in Peoria, Ariz. Ross D. Franklin, Associated Press
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Rod Carew, left, with wife Rhonda Carew, and Tony Oliva, right, arrive for the funeral of baseball great Harmon Killebrew Friday, May 20, 2011, in Peoria, Ariz. Carew and Oliva were former teammates of Killebrew. Ross D. Franklin, Associated Press
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Hall of Famer and former Minnesota Twins' Bert Blyleven, left, and former major league baseball player and musician Charley Pride walk into Christ's Church of the Valley for former Twins' Harmon Killebrew's funeral, Friday, May 201, 2011, in Peoria, Ariz The Arizona Republic, David Wallace, Associated Press
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A bagpipe player leads the processional for Hall of Famer and former Minnesota Twins' Harmon Killebrew's funeral at Christ's Church of the Valley, Friday, May 20, 2011, in Peoria, Ariz. Killebrew died Tuesday, May 17 of esophageal cancer. He was 74. The Arizona Republic, David Wallace, Associated Press
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Minnesota Twins fan Lynette Casey, of Phoenix, leaves the funeral of baseball great Harmon Killebrew Friday, May 20, 2011, in Peoria, Ariz. Ross D. Franklin, Associated Press
By Associated Press

PEORIA, Ariz. — Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew was remembered for his kindness and respect for all those he encountered in a moving funeral service on Friday.

Several hundred, including past and present members of the Minnesota Twins, attended the service at a suburban north Phoenix church on a gorgeous sunny morning.

Killebrew, who hit 573 home runs in his long major league career, died Tuesday of esophageal cancer at 74.

Former teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven had those in attendance stand and cheer Killebrew for an imagined home run No. 574 near the end of the service, and the crowd responded with a rousing effort.

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But it was Killebrew the man who was celebrated far more than Killebrew the baseball player.

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