Emmett Louis Haala

Emmett was born on June 5, 1936 at home in Bashaw Township, Brown County to Edward and Ottilia (Nachreiner) Haala. He attended St. Paul's Catholic School in Comfrey, school district 65 in Burnstown Township and St. Raphael's Catholic School in Springfield. He attended school through 8th grade and then began his work career at age 14 setting up machinery for Runck Hardware and Implement in Springfield. He worked there as a mechanic until 1970 when he started his own shop, Emmett's Repair. He operated his shop until he retired in 1999.

Emmett joined the National Guard, training at Fort Leonardwood, MO and Fort Ord, CA and was part of the clean-up after the 1964 Alaska earthquake.

Emmett lived and breathed John Deere. He was an expert mechanic and could answer any question or fix any problem. He did repair other brands of machinery, but John Deere was his favorite. He shared many memories of John Deere Days held at Runck Hardware and Implement and enjoyed making coffee and hot dogs for the throngs of people attending and showing the newest John Deere Movie. He continued this love of John Deere by collecting tractors - small and large scale. He was an active member of the Prairieland Two Cylinder Club and the Fordson Collectors.

He is survived by his 3 sisters - Doris Hoffman of Salem, SD, Marie (Martha) Sherman of Washington, IA, and Jane Haala of Mankato; nieces and nephews, Michael Hoffman of Salem, SD, Theresa (Harley) Mickelson of Salem, SD, Duane (Becky Partanen) Tarjeson of Mankato, Cindy (Jacob Grillo) Tarjeson of Mankato and Tony (Miranda) Tarjeson of Mankato. He was preceded in death by his parents and niece, Dawn Tarjeson.