Wayne L. Aarsvold, rural Kasson, MN died Tuesday, June 29, in Mayo Clinic Hospital-Rochester, St. Mary’s Campus.
The funeral service will be held at South Zumbro Lutheran Church, 4830 120th Ave SW, Kasson, MN on Monday, July 12th at 1:00 pm with Pastors Pete Wyttenbach and Jeff Bernards officiating. Visitation will be from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm the day of the service. The service will also be live streamed on the South Zumbro Lutheran Church YouTube website. Burial will be in the South Zumbro Lutheran Cemetery. Military graveside services will be provided by the Kasson American Legion Post 333.
Wayne was born on January 12th, 1946 to Wallace and Lorraine Aarsvold in Kasson, MN. He grew up on the family farm and after graduating high school, served his country in the US Navy during the Viet Nam War. He did two tours in Viet Nam as a jet engine mechanic. The first tour was on the USS John Hancock and the second tour on the Bon Homme Richard aircraft carrier in the Gulf of Tonkin.
Following his tour of duty in Viet Nam, Wayne returned to San Diego, California in 1969. He went to flight school and obtained his pilot’s license and his registered flight instructor license. He worked at Solar Company as a jet engine overhauling mechanic and flew charter flights for Bredse & Johnson Charter Company out of California, and also worked as a flight instructor.
It was in San Diego where Wayne met his future wife, Mary Kathryn Ahler.
In 1974, Wayne returned to the farm to form a partnership with his parents. Shortly after returning to the farm, Wayne got in touch with Mary Kathryn again and the rest is history. They were married January 9th, 1976. Wayne and Mary have one son, Paul. For many years, Wayne was also able to continue his love of flying by working as a flight instructor at the Dodge Center Airport.
Wayne served on the Canisteo Township Board, the Dodge County Fair Board, the Dodge Center Airport Advisory Board, and received the Canisteo Young Farmer Award as well as the Mid-America Young Farmer Award.
Wayne is survived by his wife, Mary; his son, Paul (Val) of Plainview; brothers Joe of Camarillo, CA and Todd (Connie) of Kasson, MN; sisters Lois Burdick (Ron Durst) of Mantorville, MN and Janet Lotegeluaki (Samuel), of Lonsdale, MN; grandchildren PJ (Melanie), Nick, Lafe, Julia and Jessica; great-grandchild Talek as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers-in-law, John Burdick and Danny Ahler.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to South Zumbro Lutheran Church or the charity of the donor’s choice.
Mary Phyllis and I are with you on your loss. Wayne and I had some good conversations about our times in the navy and being to Viet Nam I will miss him.
our prayers are with your family
David and Phyllis Thompson