1918
Rolland
2007
Rolland Kutzler
August 11, 1918 — November 7, 2007
Rolland Kutzler
August 11, 1918~ November 7, 2007
Rolland Kutzler, of Clinton, MN, passed away Wednesday, November 7, 2007, at the age of 89. Memorial Service will be Saturday, November 10, 2007, at 1:00pm at the Larson Funeral Home in Graceville, MN. Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the service.
Rolland Gerald Kutzler, was born August 11, 1918, to Rolland Sr., and Gena (Running) in Kenyon, MN. He was the oldest of 10 children, and was always known to his family and close friends, as Babe. When Rolland was an infant, he and his mom returned to a high place in the hills, called 3 Mile Table, near Glendive, Montana, to rejoin her husband and the rest of the family that had settled there. He spent his childhood years there and told of many adventures he and his brothers and sisters had. During the dust bowl years of the '30's, the family moved to Detroit Lakes, MN. It was a long dusty ride with several small brothers and sisters. The first paved road he had ever seen, was in Fargo, ND.
As a young man, he helped farm, herded sheep and raised horses. On a trip to sell horses, he met a young lady, Joyce Coates. This started a life long romance that lasted over 60 years.
In the early days of WWII, Rolland left his home and traveled to Tacoma, WA. He went to welding school and worked in the shipyards, building battleships for the war effort. He was joined by his sister, Marguerite and brother, Robert. Joyce soon followed and lived with her great aunt and uncle, Malcom and Amelia Mc Phail, until they were married. Rolland and Joyce were married at the Mc Phail home on July 24, 1943. They celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary this past July.
In November of 1943, Rolland joined the U.S. Navy. He served on the USS Ringleader and the Phillip Kerrney, both merchant marine supply ships, commissioned by the Navy. He traveled to Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand and New Guinea. He was discharged in June of 1946, reaching the rank of Chief Petty Officer, 3rd class.
After the war, they returned home to Minnesota, settling with his parents on a farm near Clinton, MN. They started their family there with Donna. In the spring of 1947, they moved to their own farm, east of Graceville, MN. Four more girls were added to the family; Karen, Barbara, Margorie, and Sandra. He also opened his home to Rodney Coates, Joyce's brother, Bobby Flannigan, and several hired men. In 1975, Rolland moved his family to his other farm site, south of Johnson, MN, where he built a new house for Joyce.
Rolland had a strong dislike for trees, especially when they interfered with his farming. His favorite thing to do was to run his old D8 caterpillar. He would push trees and dig ditches until dark. He knocked down trees for anyone that would let him, for some reason known only to him, it was great fun!
He loved to farm and always tried his best to make some improvements each year. He raised large herds of sheep and had a special affection for all animals. There was nothing he couldn't fix or weld together.
Ever since he was young, Rolland wanted to learn to fly. Finally, at the age of 60, he obtained his pilot's license, and bought a 4 seater, Piper Cherokee. He spent many hours flying over the fields and giving grandkids, rides.
He was extremely generous with everyone, especially his children and grandchildren, whether helping them get a start in life, or helping out with that first car. He always had a load of wood handy for wiener roasts when the grandkids came to visit.
There were good times and sad times; retiring from farming at the age of 73, the auction sale in 1993, his second daughter, Karen's passing in 1996, and the tornado that ravaged the new farm site in May 1996, and then his diagnosis with congestive heart failure. Rolland always picked himself and his family up, started that old D8 cat, cleaned things up and got about the business of living. He always said, "Let's get in done, now."
Rolland passed away at his home on Wednesday morning, November 7th, surrounded by his wife, 4 daughters and 3 grandchildren.
Rolland is survived by his wife, Joyce, of Clinton, MN; daughters, Donna Winters, of Milbank, SD, Bunny (Dennis) Strong, of Deer Lodge, MT, Margie Kutzler, of Corona, CA, and Sandy Kutzler-Adams, of Johnson, MN; brother, Jim Kutzler, of Charleston, AR; sister, Marguerite Smolkowski, of Spokane, WA; 7 grandchildren, Vernon, Stacy, and Rickie Vogel and families, Jerry Jr., Shawn, and Bernadette Odden and families, Sarah Damerow and family; 7 great grandsons and 6 great granddaughters; Many nieces and nephews and several brother's and sister's in laws.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rolland Sr. and Gena; daughter, Karen; brothers, Howard, Robert, Charles, and Raymond; sisters, Marion, Audrey, and Elizabeth.
August 11, 1918~ November 7, 2007
Rolland Kutzler, of Clinton, MN, passed away Wednesday, November 7, 2007, at the age of 89. Memorial Service will be Saturday, November 10, 2007, at 1:00pm at the Larson Funeral Home in Graceville, MN. Visitation will be held 1 hour prior to the service.
Rolland Gerald Kutzler, was born August 11, 1918, to Rolland Sr., and Gena (Running) in Kenyon, MN. He was the oldest of 10 children, and was always known to his family and close friends, as Babe. When Rolland was an infant, he and his mom returned to a high place in the hills, called 3 Mile Table, near Glendive, Montana, to rejoin her husband and the rest of the family that had settled there. He spent his childhood years there and told of many adventures he and his brothers and sisters had. During the dust bowl years of the '30's, the family moved to Detroit Lakes, MN. It was a long dusty ride with several small brothers and sisters. The first paved road he had ever seen, was in Fargo, ND.
As a young man, he helped farm, herded sheep and raised horses. On a trip to sell horses, he met a young lady, Joyce Coates. This started a life long romance that lasted over 60 years.
In the early days of WWII, Rolland left his home and traveled to Tacoma, WA. He went to welding school and worked in the shipyards, building battleships for the war effort. He was joined by his sister, Marguerite and brother, Robert. Joyce soon followed and lived with her great aunt and uncle, Malcom and Amelia Mc Phail, until they were married. Rolland and Joyce were married at the Mc Phail home on July 24, 1943. They celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary this past July.
In November of 1943, Rolland joined the U.S. Navy. He served on the USS Ringleader and the Phillip Kerrney, both merchant marine supply ships, commissioned by the Navy. He traveled to Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand and New Guinea. He was discharged in June of 1946, reaching the rank of Chief Petty Officer, 3rd class.
After the war, they returned home to Minnesota, settling with his parents on a farm near Clinton, MN. They started their family there with Donna. In the spring of 1947, they moved to their own farm, east of Graceville, MN. Four more girls were added to the family; Karen, Barbara, Margorie, and Sandra. He also opened his home to Rodney Coates, Joyce's brother, Bobby Flannigan, and several hired men. In 1975, Rolland moved his family to his other farm site, south of Johnson, MN, where he built a new house for Joyce.
Rolland had a strong dislike for trees, especially when they interfered with his farming. His favorite thing to do was to run his old D8 caterpillar. He would push trees and dig ditches until dark. He knocked down trees for anyone that would let him, for some reason known only to him, it was great fun!
He loved to farm and always tried his best to make some improvements each year. He raised large herds of sheep and had a special affection for all animals. There was nothing he couldn't fix or weld together.
Ever since he was young, Rolland wanted to learn to fly. Finally, at the age of 60, he obtained his pilot's license, and bought a 4 seater, Piper Cherokee. He spent many hours flying over the fields and giving grandkids, rides.
He was extremely generous with everyone, especially his children and grandchildren, whether helping them get a start in life, or helping out with that first car. He always had a load of wood handy for wiener roasts when the grandkids came to visit.
There were good times and sad times; retiring from farming at the age of 73, the auction sale in 1993, his second daughter, Karen's passing in 1996, and the tornado that ravaged the new farm site in May 1996, and then his diagnosis with congestive heart failure. Rolland always picked himself and his family up, started that old D8 cat, cleaned things up and got about the business of living. He always said, "Let's get in done, now."
Rolland passed away at his home on Wednesday morning, November 7th, surrounded by his wife, 4 daughters and 3 grandchildren.
Rolland is survived by his wife, Joyce, of Clinton, MN; daughters, Donna Winters, of Milbank, SD, Bunny (Dennis) Strong, of Deer Lodge, MT, Margie Kutzler, of Corona, CA, and Sandy Kutzler-Adams, of Johnson, MN; brother, Jim Kutzler, of Charleston, AR; sister, Marguerite Smolkowski, of Spokane, WA; 7 grandchildren, Vernon, Stacy, and Rickie Vogel and families, Jerry Jr., Shawn, and Bernadette Odden and families, Sarah Damerow and family; 7 great grandsons and 6 great granddaughters; Many nieces and nephews and several brother's and sister's in laws.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Rolland Sr. and Gena; daughter, Karen; brothers, Howard, Robert, Charles, and Raymond; sisters, Marion, Audrey, and Elizabeth.