John W. Klossner

John W. Klossner, 80, a lifelong resident of Kasson, passed away Monday, November 17, 2014, at Prairie Meadows Senior Living Facility. John was born on December 16, 1933, in Pine Island, Minnesota, Goodhue County, to Robert and Gertrude (Heimburg) Klossner.At the age of eight he moved to Kasson with his family and attended school there until his graduation from high school in 1952. John enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1953 during the Korean War and then served overseas in the European Theater as a radio operator. John married Mary Ann Lange on September 2, 1956 while he was still in the Air Force.They lived for a brief time in Reno, Nevada.John was honorably discharged from the Air Force in March of 1957 and returned with Mary Ann to make their home in Kasson. John worked for the Wonder Bread Bakery in Rochester for three years, and then worked for Marigold Dairies from 1960 to 1974 in retail sales.John then went to work as a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service in the Kasson office from 1974 until his retirement in November of 1998. John was incredibly sports minded, as well as a gifted athlete.He especially loved basketball, softball, football, and kicking field goals.He also loved to golf, square dance, polka dance, and play cards.In his later years he learned how to use a computer and spent many hours playing FreeCell where he started with game number one and worked his way through over 37,000 consecutive games. In January 1991 his wife, Mary Ann, passed away as a result of cancer.He met Margaret Nusbaum in 1998, and they spent fifteen wonderful years together dancing all over the tri-state area.John started spending his winters in Lake Havasu City, Arizona where he thoroughly enjoyed the much warmer weather. In 2012, he moved from his house in Kasson to Prairie Meadows Senior Living where he enjoyed playing bingo and socializing with other residents and the staff members at the facility. John was a lifetime member of the Kasson American Legion and the Mantorville VFW. John is survived by his four daughters, Brenda Parker of Mantorville, Lisa Klossner of Kasson, Wanda (and Dean) Jereczek of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and Darla (and Tim) Tjepkes of Rochester; his grandchildren, Rebecca (and Paul) Mecikalski of Mantorville, Joy (and Jim) Robinson of Clarks Grove, and Michael Tjepkes of Rochester; his two great-grandchildren Ezra James Robinson and Maryann Carol Mecikalski; and his very special companion, Margaret Nusbaum of Mankato.In addition he is survived by one brother Ernie (and Judy) Klossner of Blaine, three sisters Rose (and Charles) Koenig of Rochester, Alice Klossner of Kasson, and Dorothy (and Alvin) Gross of Dodge Center. He is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Mary Ann, his parents Robert and Gertrude, and his sisters Lina Torgerson, Margaret Foley, and Amanda Stahl. A memorial service will be held, Saturday, November 22, at 11:00 AM at the Kasson United Methodist Church, 801 Fifth Avenue NW, with military honors.Visitation will be at the Kasson United Methodist Church on Friday, November 21, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM, and Saturday at the church prior to the service from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family or to the charity of choice.