At the young age of 43, Daren Lee Klegstad unexpectedly passed away on Wednesday, January 4, 2017, at his home in Jordan, MN.
A time of gathering will be held on Monday, January 9, from 4-7 pm at Ballard-Sunder Funeral and Cremation, 104 West First Street, Jordan and one hour prior to the mass at church. A Mass of Christian Burial will be on Tuesday, January 10 at 11 am, St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 210 North Broadway Street, Jordan. Father Timothy Yanta will preside, with Daren’s three nephews, Jacob Klegstad, Justin Klegstad and Trevor Wolf, as urn bearers. Daren will be laid to rest at Spirit Hill Cemetery, Jordan. Memorials are preferred and will be distributed in Daren’s memory by the family.
Gerald and Lucy (Kostrzewski) Klegstad proudly announced on January 16, 1973, the birth of their fifth child Daren Lee, gracing this world in Minneapolis, MN. The baby of the family, he truly enjoyed growing up in Shakopee with his brothers, Dean and Douglas, and sisters, Roxanne and Lisa. Daren found the most enjoyment being outdoors. It did not matter what he was doing. Daren treasured the family fishing trips to Canada and became quite an avid deer hunter. While he treasured his siblings, it was a life-long friendship with the neighbor boy, Curt Downs, that he relished the most.
Graduating from Shakopee High School in 1991, Daren attended Hennepin Technical College to explore auto mechanics. This interest drew Daren to car racing at Elko Speedway for several years. When he wasn’t working on cars, Daren could be found working side by side at the family business, Quality Green. Over the years, his father showed him how to run a successful business, and in 2005 Daren bought Fertimix in Jordan, a custom fertilizer and deicing manufacturer.
Through mutual friends, Daren was introduced to Anne Kanning. They started dating and on October 17, 1998, at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Shakopee, MN, Daren and Anne were married. They became the proud parents to three beautiful daughters, Hope, Natalia and Juliet. Daren was the happiest doing anything with his girls, especially outdoors. As a family, they enjoyed traveling, fishing, spending time at his parents’ house in Karlstad, MN and visiting family and friends. From 2007-2008, Daren and Anne were host parents to a German exchange student, Anna-Lena. The family became very close with her, and Daren considered Anna-Lena his fourth daughter. During Anna’s stay, the family traveled to Florida, Arizona, and Georgia.
Daren loved adventures and anything at high speeds. Inspired by his dad, he earned his multi-engine commercial pilot’s license, and also enjoyed flying ultra-light planes together with his father. Daren was associated with Sky Dive Twin Cities for many years. He loved taking people on sky diving excursions and he also enjoyed the thrill of the jump. Daren appreciated the high speed of a snowmobile with his brothers and friends.
In his earlier years Daren enjoyed wood working. He loved volunteering at his daughters’ school, St John the Baptist Catholic School and cooking meals at The Retreat in Wayzata.
Left to continue Daren’s legacy of generosity, kindness and big-hearted spirit are Anne and their daughters, Hope, Natalia, and Juliet; parents, Gerald and Lucy Klegstad; siblings, Roxanne DuBois, Dean (Mary) Klegstad, Douglas (Eugenia) Klegstad, Lisa (Brian) Wolf; nieces and nephews; Heather, Sarah and Gabrielle, Hannah, Jacob, Emma, Taylor, Justin, Alycia, Alexandra, Trevor, Jennifer; many loving relatives and devoted friends; other loving relatives and devoted friends
Preceded in death and there to welcome Daren home are his grandparents.
