Eugene Peter Kuznia

Eugene Kuznia, 86, lifelong resident of Stephen, MN, died in his home on Tuesday morning, April 8, 2025.
Eugene was born on December 21, 1938, on the family farm, to Peter and Polly (Kazmierczak) Kuznia. He grew up working the land and attended country school with his two younger sisters. In 9th Grade, Eugene transferred to Stephen High School and, as a 10th Grader, started going with his high school sweetheart, Theresa Stich. They would marry on October 10, 1959, and enjoy 65 years of life, side-by-side. They raised ten children, eight of which were girls. Eugene tried his best to impart his love of farming upon them, but spent most of his time repairing the chaos they wrought on his fields and equipment. He loved his work, enjoyed the smell of fresh earth and tractor diesel, and taking his daily 20-minute nap on the floor. In those early years, the family went on many camping trips, enjoyed movie night on the reel-to-reel, and worked in their restaurant, the Dairy Bar. Eugene's specialty was making breakfast and not worrying about the dishes. They sold the place after 17 years of ownership, with Eugene farming and working at Terog Manufacturing for 20 years. He later worked at Marvin Windows in Grafton, ND, in the specialty department, where he put his high school education to use doing geometry on paper a little faster than the computers.
Eugene's large family kept him very busy, and he enjoyed brief escapes to the hunting shack, the golf course, and the lakes to ice fish. He loved to entertain the little ones, and they remember bouncing on his knee while he sang. A self-taught musician who couldn't read a note, Eugene played piano, guitar, harmonica, and accordion, enjoying dancing to as well as playing music. He was a great grandpa, who couldn't stay mad even when the kiddos made a mess of his perfectly-kept yard.
He was a faithful husband, a loving father, and a good man.
May perpetual light shine upon him.
In addition to his wife of 65 years, Theresa, he is survived by nine children, Jean (Brian) Hendricks, Lynette (Brent) Krenelka, Mary Colby, Jeffrey Kuznia (Jason), Jennifer (William) Straw, Julie Kuznia, Nathan (Sheri) Kuznia, Darcy (Craig) Smith, and Jamie (Rob) Bowman; 17 grandchildren, Benjamin (Julie), Jonathan (Crystal), Christopher (Lona), and Ethan, Maddelyn (Tanner) and Carter, Jessica, Hannah (Tyler) and Zachary, Gunnar, Landon (Clio), Brady, Carson, and Lauren, and Jordan, Samuel, and Rylee; great-grandchildren, Luke, Whitney, Ella, Will, August, Otis, Harper, Paxton; and sisters, Suzanne (Ed) Husler and Patty Durand.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter, Francine Kuznia; grandson, Daniel Hendricks; son-in-law, Tom Colby; brother-in-law, Daniel Durand; and parents-in-law, Leo and Julia Stich.
Memorials are Preferred, and may be made in his memory to the following organizations:
- Stephen Volunteer Ambulance Service – Hospice of the Red River Valley – St. Stephen Cemetery
MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Saturday, April 12, 0225, at 10:30 AM, in St. Stephen Catholic Church, Stephen, MN.
VISITATION: Friday evening, April 11, at 6:00 PM; Rosary at 6:45 PM; Prayer Service at 7:00 PM; and one hour prior to Mass in the Church.
INTERMENT: St. Stephen Catholic Cemetery, Stephen, MN
To watch a video of Eugene's Mass of Christian Burial, please click the link: Eugene Kuznia's Mass of Christian Burial Video