William Kaul

1943 - 2024

Rosemount - William (Bill) Joseph Kaul, age 80, of Rosemount, formerly of Northfield, passed away peacefully on October 7, 2024, at Suite Senior Living of Rosemount.

He was born on November 12, 1943, in Kenyon, Minnesota, to Francis Kaul and Mary (Houle) Kaul. Bill married Jean Krupp on July 16, 1966, in St. Lawrence Church, Faribault, Minnesota.

Bill and Jean started their married life in Dennison, MN and moved to Faribault with their three young boys in the early 1970's. The family then moved to Northfield in the early 1980's. In 2003, Bill and Jean moved to Branson, MO for a few years but then moved back to Faribault and eventually Northfield to be closer to family and old friends. He and Jean then decided to move to a Sr. Living facility in Burnsville, MN as his physical condition started changing rapidly due to being diagnosed with both Cancer and Parkinson's Disease.

Bill grew up on farms in rural Kenyon and Faribault with his siblings Ken, Gloria (Teen) and Nan. He perfected his skills as a welder at a young age and then joined the US Army after high school. He served his country during a difficult political time in the early 1960's and was discharged from the Army reserves in 1968. He reveled in figuring out anything mechanical, and developed the ability to make anything he needed out of any material with his own two hands.

He worked on the family and neighbors' farms before joining the military, and found employment at the U of M and Sheldahl Corporation after his active duty in the Army was completed. Bill finally found his long-term employment home at St. Olaf College in Northfield - first on the grounds crew and eventually as a welder and maintenance technician in the mechanical shop. He continued to work at St. Olaf for 34 years until his retirement in 2003 when he and Jean decided to move to Branson, MO. Upon returning from Branson in 2009, he wanted something to do to stay active so he "un-retired" and took a position on the grounds crew with the Northfield School District, where he continued to mow lawns through the fall of 2022, when at the age of 78 he retired for a second time.

In the late 1990's, Bill created his own "Plow Club" with friends that enjoyed collecting and working with antique and classic farm machinery. He offered up his own land to host yearly events for planting the field, harvesting the crop, and then plowing the soil over in anticipation for the next year. He was also an amateur sculptor / artist and made many unique creations out of stones and metal pieces, including what he called "rock chickens", replicas of old steam engines, tractors and other custom pieces for friends and family. Bill also played guitar and passed that skill on to his son Joe.

If Bill knew you and you needed help, he didn't ask any questions and would be one of the first people to offer his skills and time to assist with whatever the need was at any time of day or night. Although he rarely expressed it, everyone that he let into his circle knew they were well cared for and greatly appreciated.

William is survived by his spouse, Jean; his sons, Joe (Karen) of Hanover, MN; Mike of Faribault; and Jim (Sarah) of Lakeville. He is also survived by 7 grandchildren; Mason & Afton (Joe); Jennifer, Nicole, & Jacob (Mike), and Emma & Ethan (Jim). Other surviving family members include sister Gloria (Paul) Kennedy of Mankato, MN, sister-in-law Judy Kaul of Northfield, MN, brother-in-law David Dienst & sister-in-law Marian Bahl of Faribault. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Nancy (Dienst), brother-in-law Wesley and brother Kenneth.

A celebration of life for William will be held from 2-4 PM, Sunday, October 20, 2024, at Bierman, Benson & Langehough Funeral Home in Northfield. Military honors will be held outside the funeral home at 4 PM, following the celebration of life.

www.northfieldfuneral.com