Donald Joseph Kaiser

Northview ~ North Mankato Mortuary 2060 Commerce Dr North Mankato, MN 56003 507-388-2288 After an amazing 65 years of life, Donald J. Kaiser of Mankato, MN went home to his blessed Lord and Savior after living with cancer for 3 years. He was born in Marshall, MN on June 1, 1949 to Joseph and Mona (Caron) Kaiser. His youth was spent on a farm with a lake where he and his siblings spent the days fishing, skiing, trapping, and farming. Don served his country for four years in the Air Force, earning a Presidential Citation for his brave service in Vietnam. He went to business school at Southwest State University in Marshall. He married Patricia Fury on July 24, 1976, who he'd known since childhood, and they have two daughters. Don's next great love after friends and family was fishing. He spent countless hours catching and releasing and enjoying God's bountiful beauty. One of his hobbies later in life was wine and beer making and he was one of the previous owners of Brew-n-Wine Creations in Mankato. His gift of sharing with others included many fine bottles of his red wine. Other favorite activities included hunting, golfing, and spending time at the lake in Ottertail for 12 years, then in Alexandria for the past 8 years. Don enthusiastically loved his God, family, and life. He was energetic, hard-working, and had a great sense of humor. He traveled during the winter and his favorite warm place was Mazatln, Mexico, where he was affectionately known as Don Cheapo' and was proud of it. Don's entire career was spent in agriculture sales management working for various seed companies, owning his own agriculture distributing company, and ending the last 10 years with Enter's Liquid Fertilizer. He loved helping farmers develop their land and finding the best product for the greatest yield. He developed lifelong friends throughout the years in this line of business. Don is survived by his wife Patricia (Fury) Kaiser; daughters Heidi (Ryan) Johnson of Denver, and Heather (Travas) Diersen of Eden Prairie; sisters Mary Ann (Larry) Lohse, Joyce (JR) Clark; brother Rev. Dick (Beth) Kaiser; many nieces and nephews; honorary son' Nate Reed; many honorary daughters'; and a grandbaby (Diersen) expected in June. Don's Celebration of Life Service will be Sunday, February 22 at 3:00 p.m. with a viewing at 2:00 p.m. until the start of the service at Crossview Covenant North Mankato. A wake will be held on Saturday, February 21 from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Northview North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Drive. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made on Don's behalf to MN Teen Challenge or Mankato Salvation Army. A private family burial will be held at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Don was preceded in death by his father Joseph Kaiser, mother Mona Kaiser, sister Rev. Carol Kaiser, nephew Marty Davis, father-in-law Gene Fury, and many other friends and family members.