Dibble Funeral Home

James K. “Jim” Johnson, Sr, 63, of Eyota died at his home on August 29, 2021.  He was born on June 4, 1958 the son of Robert & Thelma Johnson.

He was a proud Army veteran and owned his own home siding business.  James loved to live his life free of care.  He enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson almost as much as he did helping others.  Jim loved being with all of his grandchildren and his dogs.  His sense of humor was often apparent; “monkey faces” was a common call-out.

Jim was always there for everyone who needed help, even if they didn’t ask for it.  There were no limits to what he would do for his family.  He lived a life few people will ever really know or understand, but to those who did, he was a legend in his own right.  Anyone who had the pleasure of knowing Jim, will remember his smile and the lasting impression he made; those who never knew him missed out on the opportunity to know a great person.  

Graveside services for Jim will be held September 4 at 1:00 pm at Maple Grove Cemetery in Kasson, MN.

Jim was preceded in death by grandparents Loretta & Jay Johnson and Austin & Daisy Kent; parents Robert & Thelma Johnson; brothers Richard Johnson and Jay Johnson and sister Mary Reige.

He is survived by sons James Kent Johnson, Jr., Jesse James Johnson,  and Jeffrey Austin Johnson (Brodi) all of  Minnesota and Reece Johnson of Washington; brothers  Paul  of Oklahoma,  and Scott of Minnesota; sisters Linda Johnson of Nevada, Loretta Vreeze, Candy Schutte, Sarah Anding, and Marth Johnson all of Minnesota; and grandchildren Tommy (22), Zandria (21), James III (16), Borden (13), Ava (10), Aydren (7), Kinnedy (5) and Rowland Stryker (2) all of Minnesota; Alex (16), Colten, Dakota and Kylen Johnson also all of Minnesota; and Rylee (17), Tayen (10) and Makenna (2) all of Minnesota.  

Wayne L. Aarsvold, rural Kasson, MN died Tuesday, June 29, in Mayo Clinic Hospital-Rochester, St. Mary’s Campus.

The funeral service will be held at South Zumbro Lutheran Church, 4830 120^th Ave SW, Kasson, MN on Monday, July 12^th at 1:00 pm with Pastors Pete Wyttenbach and Jeff Bernards officiating.  Visitation will be from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm the day of the service. The service will also be live streamed on the South Zumbro Lutheran Church YouTube website.  Burial will be in the South Zumbro Lutheran Cemetery.  Military graveside services will be provided by the Kasson American Legion Post 333.

Wayne was born on January 12^th, 1946 to Wallace and Lorraine Aarsvold in Kasson, MN.  He grew up on the family farm and after graduating high school, served his country in the US Navy during the Viet Nam War. He did two tours in Viet Nam as a jet engine mechanic. The first tour was on the USS John Hancock and the second tour on the Bon Homme Richard aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Tonkin.

Following his tour of duty in Viet Nam, Wayne returned to San Diego, California in 1969. He went to flight school and obtained his pilot’s license and his registered flight instructor license.  He worked at Solar Company as a jet engine overhauling mechanic and flew charter flights for Bredse & Johnson Charter Company out of California, and also worked as a flight instructor.

It was in San Diego where Wayne met his future wife, Mary Kathryn Ahler.

In 1974, Wayne returned to the farm to form a partnership with his parents.  Shortly after returning to the farm, Wayne got in touch with Mary Kathryn again and the rest is history.  They were married January 9^th, 1976.  Wayne and Mary have one son, Paul.  For many years, Wayne was also able to continue his love of flying by working as a flight instructor at the Dodge Center Airport.

Wayne served on the Canisteo Township Board, the Dodge County Fair Board, the Dodge Center Airport Advisory Board, and received the Canisteo Young Farmer Award as well as the Mid-America Young Farmer Award.

Wayne is survived by his wife, Mary; his son, Paul (Val) of Plainview; brothers Joe of Camarillo, CA and Todd (Connie) of Kasson, MN; sisters Lois Burdick (Ron Durst) of Mantorville, MN and Janet Lotegeluaki (Samuel), of Lonsdale, MN; grandchildren PJ (Melanie), Nick, Lafe, Julia and Jessica; great-grandchild Talek as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers-in-law, John Burdick and Danny Ahler.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to South Zumbro Lutheran Church or the charity of the donor’s choice.

Alton Kent Anderson passed away on Friday, June 4, 2021 at his home in Kasson after a 19 year battle with adenocarcinoma lung cancer.  Kent was born to Alton H. and Alma G. Anderson of Mantorville, MN on October 18, 1949 and lived in Mantorville until mid-1968 when he married Jane Frances Olson of Rochester and moved to Northwestern Indiana.  

He was employed by Bethlehem Steel Corporation in a steam generating plant for two years, then moved into the electrical department of the 80” hotstrip mill, where he stayed until moving back to Minnesota in mid-1974.  He then worked for AMPI in their mechanical maintenance department and acquired a maintenance electrician’s license.  In 1979, Alton joined the IBEW and acquired an “A” journeyman’s license.  He held this license and stayed a proud member of the IBEW until he passed away.

Alton and Jane had five children; daughters Amber (Travis) Fjerstad of rural Mantorville, Kristine (Shawn) Horning of Dodge Center and Emily (John) Brundige of Kasson; and sons Kelly (Amy) Anderson of Sparta, WI and Kyle (Nikki) Anderson of Kasson.

He is survived by his wife, children, eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.  Alton was preceded in death by his parents and all five of his siblings; Darlene (Budd) Chilson, Laurel (Bud) Eberhart, Frank (Gloria) Anderson, Konrad Anderson and Keith (Eileen) Anderson.

Before passing, Alton wished to express his gratitude to the many people, educational facilities and businesses who helped him make his way through life.  They include Mantorville Elementary School, Kasson-Mantorville High School, Bethlehem Steel Corporation, AMPI, RCTC and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers as well as the City of Mantorville and its citizens who, in the 1950’s and 1960’s, gave an independent young boy room to grow.

Alton loved his family and was very proud of all his children and their families.  He will be greatly missed.

A graveside memorial service will be held at Wildwood Cemetery in Wasioja, MN on Friday, June 18 at 3:00 pm.  A celebration of Alton’s life will immediately follow the inurnment at the Riverside Park Pavillion in Mantorville.

Lester “Gramps” Mueske of St. Cloud, formerly of Columbia Heights, passed away on May 31 at the Veterans Hospital in St. Cloud.  

Les was born in Zumbrota, MN on April 18, 1927 to Herman and Otillie (Ferber) Mueske.  Les spent his childhood in Zumbrota, Pine Island and Kasson.  Les spent his younger years working on farms until he joined the US Army.  He served in the US Army during World War II as a tank driver and was stationed in Germany.  Later he worked for Conroy Brothers for 18 years doing construction and as a plaster tender.  He retired after working 17 years for the Minneapolis School District.

On September 4, 1954, Les was united in marriage to Helen Reinsch in Kasson, MN.  Les is survived by his son Lavern (Kim) Mueske of Waldport, Oregon; stepsons Daniel (Betty) Ramer of St. Cloud, John Ramer of Dodge Center, and Larry Ramer of St. Cloud; and daughter-in-law Shirley Ramer of Sun City, AZ.  He is also survived by many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.  

Les was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, siblings Vern, Marvin, and Roger; twin sisters Lila and Lillian; step-son Aaron Ramer; step-daughter Barbara Barwald; daughter-in-law Diana Ramer; one grandson and one granddaughter.

A celebration of life will be held at 11:00 am on Tuesday, June 8, 2021 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 301 8^th Ave NW, Kasson with Pastor Nirmala Reinschmidt officiating.  Visitation will be at the church one hour prior to the service.  Burial follow the service at Evergreen Cemetery, Mantorville.  

Pallbearers will be Mark Barwald, Denny Barwald, Mike Ramer, Tony Ramer, Rob Ramer and Tracy Ramer.  Honorary pallbearers will be Jason Fritz and Todd Preimesberger.