Harvey Eldon Stoesz

Harvey Stoesz age 93, of Mountain Lake, Minnesota died on January 6, 2021, at Windom Area Hospital in Windom, Minnesota. Private graveside services will be held at the Cornerstone Cemetery (formerly EMB). The clergy will be Pastor Nathan Janzen. Interment will be at the Cornerstone Cemetery (formerly EMB) in Mountain Lake, Minnesota. Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Mtn. Lake, Minnesota. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com. Harvey Eldon Stoesz was the eldest son of Dietrich D. Stoesz and Anna (Fast) Stoesz, born on January 26, 1927 in Mountain Lake, Minnesota. He attended District #33 school and graduated from Mountain Lake High School in 1945. As a teenager he accepted Christ as his Saviour, was baptized, and became a lifelong member of the EMB Church. After high school he began farming with his father, south of Mountain Lake. He married Hilda Thiessen on July 7, 1949 and worked various jobs including the Windom flax plant, Butterfield Produce and Coop Oil. In 1951 they moved to a farmstead and began their own farming career, later moving to his Grandfather Stoesz's farmstead in 1962. Together they raised 5 children on the farm while growing various crops and livestock, eventually focusing on a poultry/egg laying operation. Entertaining friends and family was a large part of their lives. As the kids left home they began hosting Mennonite Central Committee trainees from Poland, Paraguay, Zimbabwe, and Kenya. Traveling together was always an interest for them. In earlier years, many family trips were taken to the East Coast to visit his brother and sister and families, while in later years they traveled to Panama, Germany, Paraguay and Hawaii. In 1987, Harvey was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin's lymphoma but through God's mercy and chemo, he was completely healed. In 1989 they moved from the farm into Mountain Lake. There, he became interested in woodworking and made many useful pieces of furniture for family and friends. Harvey served on many boards and committees over the years, lending his wisdom, humor and good nature to all. Some of his commitments were EMB Church trustee board, Sunday School superintendent and teacher, Coop Oil Board, the Christian School Board, MN Egg Council, Midway Township Board and the Mountain Lake City Council. He also was a partner in Conestoga Wood. Hilda was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2005 and passed away on January 22, 2007. Harvey was her loving, devoted caregiver and was devastated to be alone. In 2008, he married Pearl Haglund. They lived in his Mountain Lake home, enjoyed each other's companionship and travelled together often to visit family. They moved into assisted living in 2016 and he was an attentive, loving caregiver until she passed away in 2019. He continued with as many activities as possible in the Good Samaritan Home until March, 2020 when he and all the other residents were put into a forced quarantine because of the COVID-19 virus. This was difficult for him, as he enjoyed visiting with people, especially his family. We were able to start using Zoom to connect with him every Sunday afternoon. We so cherished those times. We prayed together every week, laughed, and shared our lives the best we could. We enjoyed our last Zoom with him on Sunday and on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, God called him home at the age of 93. "Precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his saints." Psalms 116:15 Our Dad was a good man, a kind, generous, wise man. Dad taught us how to live. He showed us how to love God first and foremost, how to love our spouses and children and how to live a life of service and generosity. "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:7-8 Harvey was preceded in death by his parents; infant brother, Eldor; first wife, Hilda; second wife, Pearl; daughter-in-law, Donna Stoesz; granddaughter, Hannah Stoesz; and great-granddaughter, Maggie Hagen. He is survived by his children: Jim (Michelle Beuning) Stoesz of Shoreview, Becky (Rick) Hagen of Prior Lake, Rachel (Bill) Janzen of Mountain Lake, Jerome (Marilyn) Stoesz of Mountain Lake, and Andrea (Chris) Sindt of Maplewood. Grandchildren: Kate (Nate) Walker, Michael (Samantha) Stoesz, Amy Stoesz, David (Samantha) Stoesz; Jeffrey (Colleen) Hagen, Allison Hagen; Tim (Laura) Janzen, Sara (Allen) Burgett; Angela (Mike) Hall, Jordan (Emily) Stoesz; and Darien (Katelyn) Sindt. Great Grandchildren: Noah, Sam, and Ben Walker, Josiah Stoesz; Scarlett and Zoey Hagen; Madison Janzen; Addyson, Makiah and Olivia Hall; and Owen and Tucker Sindt. Siblings Edgar Stoesz, Helen Peifer, D. Junior (Arlene) Stoesz; brother-in-law, Melvin (Ethel) Hooge; the family of Pearl Haglund; and many friends and relatives. Memorial contributions are preferred to the Mountain Lake Christian School.