Werner Kueker

Mankato resident, Werner (Vern) Kueker, 77, died Saturday, December 5, 2009, at Hillcrest Health Care Center in Mankato. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 11, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Mankato with Rev. Paul D. Nolting, officiating. Interment will be at Woodland Hills Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 4-7 on Thursday at Woodland Hills Funeral Home and will continue at the church one hour prior to the service.Werner was born June 1, 1932, in South Branch, St. James, MN, to Hugo and Martha (Niemeir) Kueker. He grew up and attended school in St. James. On February 1, 1958, he married Bonnie Cochran at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Mankato. He worked for Culligan Softwater from 1957 to 1966, and then worked as custodian at District #77 in Mankato until retirement. After a couple of months of retirement, he went back to his custodial job and retired for good in June of 2007. Werner enjoyed bowling, watching sports, woodworking, walking and spending time with his family. He loved visiting with people and would often times strike up a conversation with people he didn't even know, just because they looked like they wanted to talk. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church were he was a voting member, head usher, deacon and honorary deacon.He is survived by his wife, Bonnie; 2 daughters, Linda Pirius (Ken) of Rochester, Jody Hempel of Mankato; 5 grandchildren, Nicholas, Tiffany, Benjamin, Landon and Darcy; 5 great-grandchildren; 3 brothers, Martin Kueker of New Lisbon, WI, Ted (Dorothy) Kueker of Rochester, George (Marcella) Kueker of Mankato; 2 sisters, Annette Sexe and Delores Brandt both of Mankato; many nieces and nephews; 2 sisters-in-law, LaVonne Kueker of Mankato, Laura Kueker of Truman. He was preceded in death by his parents; 2 brothers, Adolph and Gene; 1 sister, Marthy.