Garrett W. Visser

Garrett W. Visser, age 75, passed away on August 28, 2024. He was a beloved father, husband, and friend who will be deeply missed by all who knew him. Garrett was born on December 23, 1948, in Beaumont, TX. In 1960 the family moved their farm life to Brooten, MN. Garrett graduated from Brooten High School in 1967. One of Garrett’s favorite hobbies was any-and-everything airplanes. He started flying lessons at age 17, and later joined the Air National Guard.

 Garrett studied at the tech school in Willmar. He then went on to earn his degree in Agriculture Education at the University of MN in St. Paul. After working with farmers as an agriculture educator in Brooten, he moved to Alexandria and became a loan officer with Production Credit Association. He was a respected Financial Planner with Lutheran Brotherhood in Alexandria for many years. Later in his career, Garrett took his excellent handyman skills and his dream of building a home and started Garrett Visser Construction. It was a labor of love completing two homes in Alexandria. His ability to fix anything continued to serve him well as he moved into his maintenance supervisor role at Super 8.

 When he wasn’t looking for the next project, (or being asked to help with a family member’s project) he gave his time volunteering with many committees and events at both First Lutheran Church and Shalom Lutheran Church. Throughout Garrett’s entire life, he lived out his faith by caring for family, friends, and his community. He had a heart of gold and would lend a hand wherever there was a need. 

Garrett leaves a legacy of love, goodness, generosity, kindness and of course laughter. His disarming wit was unmatched and always put a smile on our faces.

Garrett was preceded in death by his parents, Gerrit and Jeanette (Dommert) Visser; brother-in-law, Dale Asche, and nephew, Alex Asche. He is survived by his wife of 29 years, Joyce Visser; daughter Julianne Monceaux-Visser of Glencoe, son Jon (Becca) Visser of Cloquet, their mother, Jean Olerud of Goodyear, Arizona; and step-daughters Kristen (Shannon) Uecker of Fargo, and Stephanie (Robert) Slavik of St. Louis Park; grandchildren, Claire Monceaux, Lucas, James, Thomas, Peter, Joseph, and Evelyn Visser, Madison, Leo, and Taylor Uecker, and Paige Slavik; sister Janet Asche, niece Kimberly Asche, and nephew, Andrew (Sally) Asche.

 A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, September 7, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Shalom Lutheran Church in Alexandria, MN. The family wants to thank the Speech Language Pathology program at Minnesota State University Moorhead, Knute Nelson Home Health, Alternative Senior Care, and Knute Nelson Hospice for their excellent and dignified care for Garrett and the entire family. Memorial donations may be made to Alternative Senior Care and Knute Nelson Hospice organizations as well the Parkinson’s Foundation.