Kenneth L. Fossen

Kenneth Lloyd Fossen, the son of Harry and Mary (Stofferahn) Fossen, was born on July 7, 1931 in Austin, Minnesota. As a child, he lived on the family farm near North Mankato and drove the rural neighbors to school in a wagon drawn by his horse, Babe. The family owned a Ford Model B that was lost in a fire. Since then, Ken always cherished Model B's. He attended Mankato High School and began working for Armour and Company. In 1950, Kenneth was united in marriage to Rosamond Drahos in North Mankato and in 2020 they were blessed to celebrate 70 years of marriage. Ken and Rosie considered his siblings and their families as their closest friends spending many holidays and Sundays at the elder Fossen’s home, up north camping or at Washington Lake. Ken was a dedicated parent of eight who loved raising his children. He was a league bowler and was talented at maintaining cars. Ken took his Boy Scout troop to the Boundary Waters for week long canoeing and camping adventures. Ken was a truck driver for Armour and Company for twenty-five years where he served as a union representative. The Fossen family moved to Hastings, MN in 1972. He and Rosie started Ken and Dave's Auto Repair with their friends, Dave and Sheila Johnson. Later, he worked at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church and School as building maintenance and boiler operator. Ken and Rosie were active in the Catholic Church and were loved members of the People of Praise Community for over 40 years. Their life revolved around their faith, children and grandchildren traveling in their RV to visit after retirement. No matter what the situation, he saw the positive in everyone and went out his way to help family, neighbors and friends. He especially loved spending time with young children—many a crying baby was handed to Ken to see the child soothed. Ken could build, rebuild or rehab almost anything. His creative and logical mind inspired many. After retirement Ken and Rosie enjoyed family reunions with their eight children and grandchildren at Minnesota lakes, in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Newport Beach CA and the White Mountains of Arizona. Kenneth is preceded in death by his wife Rose; his parents Mary and Harry Fossen; brothers Robert, Cliffton, Clinton, Raymond, and Russell and his sisters Betty Johnson and Laura McCormick. Ken is survived by his children: Connie Fossen (Mark Manus), Joy (Rich) Lax, Rayetta (Danny) Silverman, Gregory (Sheila Sweeney) Fossen, Alan Fossen (Yasuyo Maruyama), Charles (Bernadette) Fossen; Julie (Kirby) Coppedge, and Jennifer Fossen (Heather DuCharme); his brother Gordon (Ruth) Fossen, brother-in-law Richard Johnson and by innumerable relatives and friends. Ken cherished his grandchildren: Jorma Anderson, Andrea Reinhardt, Dominique Fossen Silverman (Cole Chernushin), Alexandra Silverman, Tyler Fossen, Kaeli Fossen, Oliver Fossen, Benjamin (Sharon) Fossen, Therese Fossen, Daniel Fossen (Tianyue Li), Louise (Kevin) Martinez, Caleb Hackey, Alaina (Noah) Cloud, Cassia Hackey, Kian McVicar, Ashlyn McVicar and great grandchildren Tyler Anderson, Jared Reinhardt, Tristin Reinhardt, Devin Reinhardt, and Rohan Gokulakrishnan. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, May 3, 2022 at 11:00 AM at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, 2035 15th Street West in Hastings. A visitation will be held one hour prior to mass at church. A reception will follow mass in Mother Seton Hall. Interment, Resurrection Cemetery in Mendota Heights.