Kenneth "Ken" F. Dahmen

Kenneth "Ken" F. Dahmen, 82-year-old resident of Pierz, MN passed away Saturday, May 25, 2024 in Pierz. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, June 3, 2024 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pierz with Father Kenneth Popp and Father Aaron Nett officiating. Burial will take place in the Parish Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 P.M. on Sunday, June 2, 2024 and 9 to 11 A.M. Monday, June 3, all at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Pierz. Caring for Ken and his family is the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Pierz, MN. Ken was born on March 12, 1942 in Buh Township to the late Michael and Angeline (Happke) Dahmen. He attended Pierz Memorial High School and graduated in 1960. Ken and Janet (Kasella) were married on October 18, 1965 at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Royalton. They started their life in Pierz where they remained for the next 58 1/2 years. Ken began hauling milk for Gerhard Boser in 1965 and then drove for Standard Oil Company. In 1968, they purchased Ken & Jan’s Red Owl, later changing the name to Ken & Jan’s Super Valu. They owned and operated the grocery store until May of 1994. Ken perfected the art of BS-ing with his customers, running circles around younger employees with his endless energy and “get stuff done” attitude. Ken learned to make a mean fruit basket during the Christmas season. He did not enjoy fixing the freezers or the other mechanical issues that came up. He had dreams into his 70's about the compressor on the freezer going out in the middle of the night. After selling the grocery store, Ken became the custodian at St. Joseph’s Parish in July of 1994. He spent hours remodeling, refinishing and cleaning the church. If 5 snowflakes fell overnight, Kenny would be up by 5 AM, making sure the sidewalks were clear for morning mass. In addition to owning Super Valu and working at St. Joseph’s, Ken drove school bus for over 40 years. He would often say, “That is my favorite time of the day.” He was known for his strict rules but also his kind heart. He would give kids a ride down their long driveway so they wouldn’t have to walk in the dark or in the cold. He made many friends on the bus over the years and loved what he did. Ken loved to be busy. Whether it was mowing his lawn, the neighbor’s lawns, shoveling snow, shoveling the neighbor's snow, fishing, having coffee with the guys at the ALC (Hartmann's) each morning, playing cards, volunteering with the Pierz Area Senior Center, Pierz Food Shelf, and Pierz Commercial Club while being a business owner, he was the “Energizer Bunny.” He was a member of the Pierz Fire Department, Knights of Columbus, St. Joseph’s Adult Choir and Pierz Lion’s Club. Ken enjoyed snowmobiling with the Pierz and St. Joe Snowmobile Clubs. Ken also loved polka music and polka dancing. He loved to turn it up so everyone else could hear the music, even if they didn’t want to. He just assumed everyone loved polka music! He especially loved hearing his son, Dale, play the concertina. Later, he enjoyed listening to Dale’s sons, Dominick and Samuel, when they joined The Polka Beats. He and Jan were instrumental in starting the Heartland Polka Swingers in 1976. They spent countless hours dancing, laughing and having a good time. Through music, they met so many amazing, lifelong friends. Many fun times were had, especially at “The Gibbon Polka Fest” which was often referred to by Ken and Jan as “a National Holiday". Ken loved to be with his family, especially at Pierz Fish Lake. He loved fishing and teaching his grandkids how to fish and how to filet a fish. He enjoyed bonfires and was a great supporter of Grain Belt. Ken also loved to attend his kids’ and grandkids’ sporting events, loved to hear Dale and The Polka Beats play old-time music and loved to travel. Ken and Jan enjoyed many trips around the state and beyond. Ken was always there to lend a helping hand to a friend or anyone in the community. Ken loved to laugh and loved to make others laugh. His silly “Kenny-isms” will live on forever as we fondly remember the life lessons in each of those sayings. Ken was one of a kind and will be missed by many. Ken is survived by his loving wife, Jan of 58 years; his son, Dean Dahmen (Allison) of Foley, MN; his daughter, Denise Lowe (Jeff) of Corcoran, MN; his daughter-in-law, Sherry Dahmen of Buffalo, MN and grandchildren, Samuel, Daniel, Derek, Donny, Avery and Dawson, and his brother, Brian Dahmen. He was preceded in death by his son, Dale; grandson, Dominick; parents, Michael and Angeline; sister, Judy Herman; and infant brother, Donald. The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to family, friends, neighbors, community members, the Pierz Police Department and the Pierz First Responders.

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Kenneth "Ken" F. Dahmen

March 12, 1942 - May 25, 2024