Service Information
Martin Kuphal Jr., age 77, husband of LuAnn, of Gaylord, passed away Tuesday, February 11, 2020, at the Ridgeview Le Sueur Medical Center in Le Sueur.
Funeral Service will be Saturday, February 15, 2020, 11:00 A.M. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Gaylord with interment in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be Friday, February 14, 2020, from 4:00 P.M.-8:00 P.M. at the Egesdal Funeral Home in Gaylord and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.
Obituary
Martin Kuphal Jr. was born on June 18, 1942, in Gaylord, Minnesota. He was the son of Martin A. and Esther (Podratz) Kuphal. Junior was baptized as an infant on July 12, 1942, and was later confirmed in his faith as a youth on March 25, 1956, both at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Gaylord. He received his education in Gaylord and was a graduate of the Gaylord High School Class of 1960.
On June 23, 1962, Junior was united in marriage to LuAnn Mehlhop at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Arlington. After their marriage, the couple resided in Gaylord. They were blessed with four children. He was employed as a bulk fuel driver for Ed Henke and Cenex for several years before he bought the Skelly bulk fuel business and then eventually the Skelly service station. He owned and operated Skelly until his health forced him to retire from the business in 1984. He then went to work for Cenex in small engine sales and service. He eventually started his own small engine repair service and enjoyed his many customers and repairing equipment until November of 2019, when his health no longer allowed him to do so. Over the years, Junior had many heart issues and was fortunate enough to have a heart transplant in 2011. Junior and LuAnn shared 57 years of marriage.
Junior was a lifelong member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Gaylord and served many years on the Immanuel Lutheran Church Council as an Elder and school board member. He was a member of the Gaylord Fire Department for 12 years and a 35 year member of the Gaylord Baseball Association.
Junior enjoyed watching his grandchildren compete in sports, playing cards, fishing and loved to have coffee with friends. He cherished the time he spent with his family, especially his children and grandchildren.
Junior is survived by his:
Wife, LuAnn Kuphal of Gaylord, MN;
Children, Brenda Poquette and her significant other, Scott Dallmann of Gaylord, MN,
Scott Kuphal and his wife, Katie of Gaylord, MN,
Amy Swenson and her husband, Erin of Gaylord, MN, and
Stacy Latzke and her husband, Fred of Gaylord, MN;
Grandchildren, Langdon and Zafre Poquette, Andrew Swenson, Mason, Madison, McKenzie and Mara Latzke;
Sister, Doris Martens and her husband, Kenny of Gaylord, MN;
Brothers, Marvin Kuphal and his wife, Janice of Gaylord, MN, Karl Kuphal and his wife, Sue of Gaylord, MN;
Sisters-in-law, Janette Kuphal of Gaylord, MN, Elizabeth Kuphal of Gaylord, MN, and Lorna Kuphal of Gaylord, MN;
Many Nieces, Nephews, other relatives and friends.
Junior was preceded in death by his Parents, Martin and Esther Kuphal; Sister, Delores Swanson; Brothers, Irwin Kuphal, Sidney Kuphal, and Albert Kuphal; Father-in-law, John Mehlhop; Mother-in-law, Ella Mehlhop; Sisters-in-law, Virginia Mehlhop and Dorene Willmsen; Brothers-in-law, Howard Mehlhop, Alton Swanson, and Reuben Willmsen.
Lori Turbett says
I am so deeply sorry for your loss. Much love, hugs and prayers to all of you.
Donna Wolter says
LuAnn and Family
Our sincere sympathy at the passing of Junior. God be with you now and in the days to come. He was a special guy. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Don and Donna Wolter
Kacey Tollefson says
Heartbroken for all of you. I’m so sad Jr left so soon. We always had an understanding of BS between each other at the pharmacy. He loved to play jokes on us. I was the one that always saw the twinkle in his eye knowing he was joking with us. I’ll never forget the first time he got Laura. He came in and I asked him if he wanted to pick up meds for both he and Luann. He straight faced told me “we’re not together anymore”… I smiled at him without saying a word, Laura looked over at me with a mortified deer in headlights look. At which point I could no longer play along and burst out laughing. It was amazing, I’m pretty sure I almost cried I was laughing so hard. Laura had no clue at the time that he was a stinker. She learned really quickly! Miss him already. Worst part of our job is losing our favorite customers. ? Prayers for comfort for all of you grieving at this difficult time.
Katie and Jesse gran says
Please know each of you are in our thoughts and prayers! Jr. was a genuine guy, anyone that had the chance of meeting him should consider themselves Lucky! His memory and smile and quick witt with sarcasm will never be forgotten!
Larry & Jamelle Swanson says
Junior was a great uncle. I can remember when he was about 16 and I was 9. I would stay over and he would always be the one that would take me under his wing. I would help him with his chores and I thought I was really important. Way back then he had that jokester mentality. We were hauling wood into the house for the whole winter. He would disappear for a long time and left me all alone to do the work. Heck, I thought I was big stuff, doing the work, but he was just smiling that he got out of some work. I don’t think I ever got even with him but we always had that fun loving relationship. I will miss him and will keep him in our prayers.
Kathy Ulrich says
I just heard of Juniors passing this morning so sorry for this loss. He always had a smile on his face when I saw and talked to him. Very sad day. Sending hugs and saying prayers for peace to the family