Kenneth L. Barthel

Kenneth Leo Barthel, age 77, of Preston, MN, passed away on Sunday, May 12, 2019, at his home after a long battle with cancer.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Columban Catholic Church in Preston, MN at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 20, 2019, with Father Edward McGrath officiating.  Inurnment will be in the Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery Columbarium in Preston.   Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the church. 

Ken loved the Lord and was ready to make his journey Home.  Ken was born on April 8, 1942, in Minneapolis, MN to Roman and Colette (Scherber) Barthel.  At the age of 3, they moved to a farm outside of Michael, MN.  At the age of 5, they moved to Albertville, MN and he started Catholic school.  He served mass at St. Alberts Church until the age of 18.  In 1960, Ken began working at Honeywell at the downtown plant in Minneapolis in the punch press department.  In 1966, he was drafted into the U.S. ARMY and proudly served for 2 years in Germany.  Upon his discharge, he returned to Honeywell.  While he was there, he was trained for work in the tool and dies department, building jigs and dies that pierced, and also formed and cut off parts.  He retired from Honeywell in January, 1998.  He then worked for a friend, Joel Dunn, for 2 years repairing trailer homes. Following that, Ken started working for Midwest Diesel delivering parts around the Twin Cities for the next 5 years.  Upon retiring from there in 2004, he moved to Travelers Country Club in Clear Lake, MN.  Ken enjoyed hunting, fishing, golfing, and playing cards.  He later took up woodworking and built many beautiful furniture pieces in addition to decks and add-on additions to homes.  He also enjoyed spending time with family and his many friends in Minnesota and Texas, where Ken and Barb spent many years.

He is survived by his wife, Barbara, children, John (Lisa) Barthel, Erika (Jeff) Nusbaum, Daniel (Samantha) Barthel and step-daughter Heather (Michael) Powell; 7 grandchildren; 3 step-grandchildren; a sister Yvonne Roden; and numerous nieces and nephews.   

He was preceded in death by his parents Roman and Colette and a brother Roger.

The family would like to extend thanks to the wonderful and caring staff at Mayo Clinic Hospice.

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