A lifelong resident of Jordan, Curt Kochlin, age 82, died on the evening hours of Tuesday, September 16, 2014 at the Belle Plaine Lutheran Home in Belle Plaine. The visitation will be on Monday, September 22 from 4-7pm at Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home, 104 First Street West, Jordan, and from 10-11am Tuesday at the church, prior to the Mass. Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, September 23 at 11:00am at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Jordan. Father Timothy Yanta will preside. Curt will be laid to rest next to his son, Ricky, at Calvary Cemetery. Full Military Honors will be provided by the Jordan Vets Honor Guard. Curt’s urn bearers will be his grandsons, Dave Moriarty, Nick Kochlin, Nate Kochlin, Zach Kes, Eric Skinner, Cody Skinner.
On July 21, 1932, in Jordan, Mn, Curt was born to parents, Julius and Dorothy (Wermerskirchen) Kochlin. He was the oldest of three brothers, which included Mark and Gregg.
At age 16, Curt started driving the “beer truck” for his dad’s business (Kochlin Distributing), delivering beer and pop to local establishments around Scott County. He was a 1950 Jordan High School Graduate. In 1952, Curt was drafted into the U. S. Army and admirably served during the Korean War Conflict where he was stationed in Germany.
After a class play in his senior year in high school, his buddies shamed him into asking out his lifelong classmate, Marge Von Bank on a date. This worked out pretty well for Curt, and after six years of dating, they were married on January 28, 1956 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Jordan. They were blessed with six children, Ricky, Steve, Kathy, Scott, Deb and Julie. As a family, they traveled many times in the motorhome, seeing much of the United States and some of Canada.
Right out of high school, Curt worked for Joe Link, building homes, which led him into the custom cabinet business. In 1959, Curt and Don Link started L & K Cabinets in Shakopee and eventually moved the successful business to Jordan. Curt was proud of the fine workmanship that his company prided itself on and after 43 years (1959-2002) of owning and operating it, he retired in 2002.
He enjoyed trapshooting, bowling, senior golf league and had a true passion for acting with the Jordan Community Theatre. He was proud to be a member of the Jordan fire Department for 31 years, where he served as the Assistant Fire Chief. He was very proud of his two sons and four grandsons who followed in his footsteps and are now all firefighters.
Curt and Marge enjoyed their travels to Hawaii and the Caribbean, as well as the many fond memories of their 17 years of wintering in Tuscon, AZ where they met lifelong friends.
Through the years, he was an active member of the Jordan Fire Department, Jordan Knights of Columbus, St. John’s Catholic Church Parish Council, Jordan School Board, Jordan Community Theater, and the Jordan Planning and Zoning Commission.
A family man with an outgoing personality, Curt will be deeply missed by his wife of 58 years, Marge; children, Steve (Cathy Moriarty) Kochlin of Jordan, Kathy Skinner of Chaska, Scott (Kelly) Kochlin of Jordan, Deb (Lee) Kes of Jordan, Julie (Jay) Garten of Shakopee; grandchildren, Dave and Ashelyn Moriarty, Eric and Cody Skinner, Nick and Nate Kochlin, Zach, Jenna and Madi Kes, Tara and Russell Garten; brother, Mark Kochlin.
Preceded in death and there to welcome Curt home, is his son, Ricky; parents, Julius and Dorothy Kochlin; brother, Adam Kochlin.
Ballard-Sunder Funeral Home and Cremation, Jordan Chapel, proudly served Curt’s family. www.ballardsunderfuneral.com
