Edwin "Eddie" Kassen

Edwin "Eddie" Ferdinand Kassen, 80, of Red Wing, died Friday evening at his home after a brief battle with cancer. He was born on August 31, 1926, in Cologne, Minnesota the son of Ernst and Mary (Born) Kassen. He attended Zion Lutheran School and then served in the US Marine Corps from December 1, 1944 to August 23, 1946 during World War II. After his honorable discharge he attended vocational school in St. Louis, Missouri for diesel mechanics. He worked as an auto mechanic for more than fifty years for various businesses. He also owned and operated Eddie's Auto Repair from 1974 until retiring in 1991. On June 6, 1959, he was married to Janice Stehr at Christ Lutheran Church in Zumbrota. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Hay Creek, where he served on the cemetery committee, was an elder, sang in the choir and was a member of the school board. He enjoyed fishing, playing cards, woodworking, traveling, going to the cabin near Spooner, Wisconsin and bowling, where he bowled on a league for 45 years.

Survivors include his wife, Janice; three children, Gary, (Laurie) Kassen of Chanhassen, Joel (Bonnie) Kassen of Goodhue and Joyce, (Wade) Fitschen of Rochester; seven grandchildren, Justin and Allen Kassen, Chris Fitschen, Ryan and Dan Kassen and Ryan and Allie Fitschen; two brothers, Orville (Liz) Kassen of Sandstone and Myron (Audrey) Kassen of Lake Crystal; three sisters, Mildred Kusserow of Watertown, Mabel Schwartz of Minneapolis and Luola Mantueffel of Moundsview and one sister-in-law, Eleanor (Gerald) Barnes of Columbus, Nebraska. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Ruth and Lyla Kassen and two brothers, Vernon and Willard Kassen.

Funeral will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Hay Creek with Rev. Lowell Sorenson officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be Justin, Allen, Ryan and Dan Kassen and Chris and Ryan Fitschen. Honorary pallbearer will be Allie Fitschen. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday at the Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel and at the church for one hour prior to the service. Memorials are preferred to the church or Fairview Red Wing Hospice.