Reuben O. Willmsen

Reuben Willmsen, age 85, of Arlington, passed away at his home on Monday morning, June 20, 2016. Funeral services will be at 10 AM, Friday, June 24, 2016, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Arlington Township. Visitation will be on Thursday, June 23, 2016, 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Kolden Funeral Home in Arlington, MN. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the services at the church on Friday morning. Pastor Gary Ruckman will officiate the services. Interment will follow immediately at St. John's Church Cemetery. Reuben was born in Arlington Township on Dec. 11, 1930. He was the only son of Albert and Elva (Zander) Willmsen. He was baptized in 1931 and was later confirmed in 1944, both at St. John's Lutheran Church in Arlington Township. He graduated from Arlington High School in 1948. On Sept. 29, 1951, Reuben was united in marriage to Dorene Mehlhop at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Arlington. After their marriage, the couple farmed in Arlington township until they moved to Arlington in 1987. The couple was blessed with four children. Reuben loved to hunt, fish and spend time at the farm. He also loved old time music and dancing. Reuben especially loved spending time with his family and attending his grandchildren and great grandchildren's activities. He was a lifelong member of St. John's Lutheran Church and served many positions; including president, cemetery board, elder, trustee and school board member. He also had served on the Sibley Medical Center board. Reuben is survived by his children and their families: Deb (Charly) Furth and their children Katie and Sam Furth; Mike (Kris) Willmsen and their children, Nick (Anna) Willmsen, Caden & Hadley, and Ben Willmsen (significant other, Annie Shotliff) and Avery, step grandchildren, Eric (Brooke) Brockhoff and Brady, Erin (Peter) Keller; Brad (Carol) Willmsen and their children, Danny, Neil, Paul and Scott; Tammy Kubal and her children, Kirby (Brittany) Kubal and Hunter, and Brittany (Matt) Turner; sister-in-law and brother-in-law LuAnn and Martin Kuphal, Jr.; many nieces and nephews. Reuben was preceded in death by his wife Dorene, parents, sisters Orma Hardel and Dorothy O'Brien; daughter-in-law Vicky Willmsen; son-in-law Gary Kubal; father and mother-in-law, John and Ella Mehlhop; sisters-in-law Virginia Mehlhop, Bernice Hoefs; brothers-in-law Howard Mehlhop, Harold Hardel and Bill O'Brien. Arrangements by Kolden Funeral Home in Arlington.

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