Emery A. Kiecker, age 86, of Burnsville, MN, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 28, 2020 in Fairview Ridges Hospital in Burnsville.
Funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 3, at 11:00 AM at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 151 E County Hwy 42, Burnsville, with visitation time from 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM. Livestream of the service can be found on Good Shepherd’s website: http://goodshep.com/church/worship/liveworship/. Interment will be at 3:00 PM at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Fairfax, MN. Masks will be required, and social distancing maintained.
Emery was born on January 14, 1934 to Erdrich and Ida ( Buboltz ) Kiecker in Fair fax , MN. Becoming the fourth boy of seven children, Emery “broke the tie” for the boys in the family. Growing up on the farm across from the country church and school, Emery was always active, often taking care of Pastor’s animals or riding his dog around the farm. Throughout his childhood, he loved playing sports, particularly baseball. He was proud of his abilities as a catcher throughout high school and often would warm up pitchers from higher level leagues. Following his graduation from Fairfax High School, Emery enlisted in the Army with his good friend Sudsy and served honorably for two years, ending up in Japan as the Korean War was ending.
After returning to Minnesota, Emery worked multiple odd jobs, including one with Citizens State Bank for a year, where he helped his boss with things like filing papers, washing windows, and even taking his wife shopping in his new Cadillac. Emery loved that Cadillac and took his boss’s words of, “Save money, work hard, and you’ll get your own one day,” to heart. He finally bought one for himself in 2010.
Emery worked hard to get a Bachelor’s in teaching from Mankato before getting his Master’s in guidance and counseling. With that, he started his first job in Mazeppa, MN, where he taught and coached baseball. After that, Emery spent the majority of his career as a guidance counselor at Metcalf Junior High in Burnsville from 1966 until his retirement in 2000. He was always the steady hand, able to be the calming voice for teachers and students throughout his career. Emery had a talent for putting people at ease and getting them back on track.
Life was enriched for Emery after connecting with Sharleen Bleick . Knowing of each other growing up, Emery and Sharleen started dating after a night of dancing to the jukebox at the Hill top bar. About a year later, they were united in marriage on June 2, 1962 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Fairfax, MN.
Together, Emery and Sharleen went on cruises to St. Thomas and Alaska, and particularly enjoyed being a part of the card club with friends from church, which met once a month for 40 years. Emery and Sharleen settled in Burnsville; they were blessed with four children. Together, they lived a traditional family life and shared 58 years of marriage. He was dedicated to their church, Good Shepherd Lutheran, where Emery served as an usher for many years. During the summer, Emery loved painting houses with his buddy Ross and all the kids. Many great memories were made with the kids working with their dad. He loved his grandchildren and had a special gift with babies, they loved listening to him talk and make different sounds, which always produced a smile. He rarely missed a game or activity for any of the kids or grandkids, he was always there to support them. Family was important to Emery, and he enjoyed spending many holidays with everyone over the years.
He will be greatly missed by his wife, Sharleen; children, Bruce Kiecker, Amy ( Kurt “ Oly ”) Kiecker-Olson, Todd (Tiffany) Kiecker, and Holly (Erick) Parsons; grandchildren, Killian, Kali, Lexi,
Aiden, Corey, Penelope, Charlotte, Duke, Derek, and Dane; sister, Gladys Wittenberg ; brother-in-law , Orion Lokensgard ; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Erdrich and Ida; brothers, Wilbert, Clarence ( Ruth ) , and Melvin ( Bernelda ) ; sisters, Elda (Elmer) Hillman and Mildred “Milly” Lokensgard ; and brother-in-law Oliver Wittenberg.
Ballard-Sunder Funeral and Cremation proudly served and cared for the Kiecker family.
