Alphonse Mages

Alphonse Lawrence Mages was born January 6, 1928, in Redwood County, the son of Oswald and Elizabeth (Zins) Mages. He was united in marriage to Barbara Kodet on October 29, 1946, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Bechyn, MN. The couple farmed south of Morton until 1966 when they moved to farm northeast of Sleepy Eye. In 1970, Alphonse received the award for highest corn yield in Brown County on non-irrigated acres. After dairy farming for 42 years, they retired and moved to New Ulm, then moved to Sleepy Eye in 2006. Alphonse enjoyed traveling, fishing, country music, and family activities. He was a great promoter of music with children and grandchildren. One of his hobbies was building birdhouses- he became known as the birdman at a local store because he bought so many birds. He had a huge cap collection and made walking sticks and canes. One of the highlights of his life was being on The Price is Right where he played a new game called Plinko. After retirement, the couple wintered in Mesa, AZ. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Sleepy Eye, the Knights of Columbus, and the National Catholic Society of Foresters. Alphonse is survived by wife Barbara; daughters- Linda (Joe) Gall of N. Mankato, Nancy Strate of Eden Valley, Barbara (Kevin) Plath of N. Mankato, Betty Jass of Lake Crystal, Debra (Larry) Fischer of Sleepy Eye, Donna (Dean) Nelson of Grove City, and Lisa (Tony) Schmitz of Sleepy Eye; sons- Dan (Arlene) Mages of Sleepy Eye, Larry (Maggie) Mages of Lafayette, Duane (Jermayne) Mages of Paynesville, Rick (Jane) Mages of Sleepy Eye, John (Cindy) Mages of Belgrade, Jeff (LeAnn) Mages of N. Mankato, Curt (Kathy) Mages of Hastings, Tom (Sharon) Mages of New Ulm, and Mike (Amy) Mages of Sleepy Eye; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brothers- Albin (Adella) Mages of Olivia, and Clarence Mages of Willmar; and sisters- Elaine (Myron) Frank of Willmar, and Diane (Jim) Schweinfurter of Olivia. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Oswald Mages, Jr.; son-in-law Charles Strate; grandson Doug Mages; and a granddaughter Paula Mages.