Kathleen “Kathy” Kersting, age 90, of Jordan, MN, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on Friday, January 22, 2021, at Oak Terrace Senior Living, in Jordan.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, January 29, at 11 am, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 313 E. Second Street, Jordan. Guests can arrive after 10:30 am and will be immediately seated. Friends and family can view the service by visiting sjbjordan.org and clicking on the live stream tab. Father Neil Bakker will preside. Kathy’s sons, Mike, Mark, Gary and Kevin and grandsons, Zachary and Jacob will act as pallbearers, with honorary pallbearer, son, Steve. She will be laid to rest at St. John Calvary Cemetery, Jordan.
In Preston Village in Fillmore County, MN, Kathleen Doris was born on March 23, 1930 to proud parents Arnold and Maybelle (Ward) Friemann. The oldest of four children, she was raised in St. Paul, MN, with siblings, Sally, Rita, and Tom.
Kathy’s life was blessed with meeting Cliff Kersting, at a ballroom in St. Paul, MN. Their love story began and on September 30, 1950, Kathy and Cliff were united in Holy Matrimony at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church, in St. Paul. They settled down in Jordan, taking over the Kersting family farm. It was here, Kathy and Cliff welcomed their first seven children, Karen, Mike, Steve, Linda, Mark, Gary, and Julie. They continued farming for several years until Cliff hurt his back. Kathy and Cliff sold the farm and started a new chapter in town.
On April 1, 1962, Kathy and Cliff established Kersting’s Bar in Jordan, with the slogan “Meet Your Friends Here!” While living in the town of Jordan, they welcomed two more children, Kevin, and Kathy. For the next 27 years, Cliff tended bar, while Kathy maintained the books for the business. Kathy could be found serving drinks, playing cards with the patrons, and listening to their stories, when Cliff needed a nap or a break. As the kids grew up, they too helped with daily tasks at the bar.
Kathy’s passion for traveling truly started in 1969, when she and other family members were able to travel to New York. After Kathy and Cliff retired on August 31, 1989, they were able to expand their travels in the motorhome, with exploring the United States, Alaska and Canada. Kathy and Cliff also traveled abroad to Europe, Ireland and Germany. For over 20 years, they spent winters in Texas.
Kathy’s days were filled with the many activities of raising nine children and working side by side with Cliff. Besides family and work, Kathy did find time to play. She participated in bowling leagues, enjoyed cards, board games, bingo and being the caller at the Schule Haus. She and Cliff spent countless hours playing the card game Big Bertha.
The Kersting family would like to thank the staff at Allina Hospice and Oak Terrace for their support, kindness and care Kathy received.
A devout Catholic, Kathy was a caring, loving, and supportive wife, mother, grandma and great grandma. She will be forever loved and missed by children, Karen (Roy) Williams, Mike (Marleen) Kersting, Steve (Sue) Kersting, Linda (Terry) Beuch, Mark Kersting, Gary (Marti) Kersting, Julie (Ron) Nichols, Kevin (Adriana) Kersting, Kathy (Mark) Ewing; many, many grandchildren; many great grandchildren; siblings, Sally Nunn, Rita Brezniak, Tom (Betty) Friemann; other relatives and friends.
Kathleen was greeted home by husband of 69 years, Cliff; grandsons, Ross Williams and Jason Beuch.
Ballard-Sunder Funeral and Cremation proudly cared for the Kersting family. www.ballardsunderfuneral.com
