John I Pirkl

John I. Pirkl, 76 John I. Pirkl, a lifelong resident of Owatonna died May 28, 2013. A Christian memorial service is set for Friday, May 31, 2013 at 1:30 pm at Brick – Meger Funeral Home, 1603 – Austin Road, Owatonna with Rev. Sandy Miller presiding. Interment will take place at Sacred Heart Cemetery. Friends may greet the family on Thursday, May 30, 2013 at Brick –Meger Funeral Home from 4pm until 7pm and one hour before the time of services on Friday. John was born on January 2, 1937 in Owatonna the son of John and Anna (Blazek) Pirkl. John attended District 14 school in rural Steele County. He was united in marriage to Audrey Hart in June of 1962 in Owatonna. The couple raised three children and later divorced. He enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard in 1954 and served for six years. John was employed by Geo. A. Klemmer and Sons Co., the local Oliver dealer where he was a valued mechanic for many years and later worked at OMC. Following his time with OMC he began his own repair business working on farm equipment along with his two sons on his farm in southwest Steele County until he retired. He was well known as the "Sidewalk Superintendent" for the Morehouse Dam Project. John spent his time after retirement looking after and watching the progress of Owatonna. This included daily drives around the city of Owatonna, quick chats with friends and forever enjoying his pipe. He loved attending the Steele County Fair and the Minnesota State Fair along with his family. He participated in antique tractor pulls, was an avid race car fan and was the mechanic for the Glenn Anderson race team. He will be remembered for his innovation and resourcefulness in fixing things that others considered to be unfixable. John is survived by his three children Kevin (Sara) Pirkl and Karen Pirkl both of Owatonna, John "Charlie" (Kim) Pirkl of Hope and three grandchildren Meghan (Pirkl) Abston, Andrew, Joseph Pirkl , and a Great-Grandchild Taejin Abston, and his sister Rose (Don) Branderhorst of Owatonna. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister Catherine.