Mike S. Kuznia

Mike S. Kuznia, 90, of Florian, MN, passed away peacefully to be with the Lord on the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, September 8, 2024, in Warren, MN.

Mike was born at home in Wright Township, Marshall County, MN, on October 3, 1933, to Michael and Bridget (Zakrzewski) Kuznia, last born of their nine children: Albert, Steve, Philomae, Melany, Ira, Emil, Rosalia, and Veronica. All of his siblings and their spouses are deceased. He grew up in Florian and attended Florian District 44 country school through the fourth grade. He then attended school in Stephen and graduated from Stephen in 1952.

Always involved in the family farm, Mike’s occupation after graduation was farming. He experienced farming with horse, small tractors, and equipment. Mike loved being a farmer. At one time they milked cows, but by the time he met his bride-to-be, he was raising cattle for beef. His first big purchase after he got married was a 96 pull-type John Deere combine. That $10,000 loan for a small farmer in 1967 was like a million now, but he always trusted in God. If he obeyed and loved God, God would bless him. Sundays were not spent in the fields – farming was work.

Mike was united in Holy Matrimony to Lillian Dostal on September 23, 1967, in St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Badger, MN, at 10am. A dinner and supper was served at her parents’ farm in the machine shed. A wedding dance was held in Florian Hall. After a perfect day without a glitch, the band was late because of a flat tire.

Mike began work for the Florian Assumption Church as a young kid serving at daily Mass and bringing fresh milk for the priest before Mass and school. He went on to be the church janitor for many years. His faithful Ford tractor helped him remove snow for a number of years.

They made their home on the family homestead on the edge of Florian for 48 years, until keeping the farm’s lawn became too strenuous for his fragilehealth. They moved to Grand Forks and lived at Silver Waters for nine years, enjoying the geese, ducks, and rabbits by the city pond.

Mike’s joy was taking the family on family trips. Some trips were far from home and some closer. Many trips were to church-related Marian Conferences in Fargo, ND, and Alexandria, SD, and YMI Retreats for his kids. In later years he loved to reminisce about those trips and how God had helped us to make the great family trips possible. He considered his greatest blessings is Faith, family, and farm.

His Faith was his bulwark. He was a praying man. Some men have “man caves” – he had his prayer corner and the Mass, Rosary, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Stations of the Cross, and his prayer books. Please pray for his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed.

Mike is survived by his wife, Lillian, of 56 years; daughter Gina (Keith), Daniel, Kailey, Thomas, Sara (Zach and great-grandchildren Brinley and Baby #2) Suther, Eric, and Julia Mykleseth of East Grand Forks, MN; daughter Cynthia (Quinten), Cecilia, Blaise, John, and Mercy Kann of Norfolk, NE; daughter Maribeth Kuznia of Alexandria, VA; daughter Jan (Matthew), Helena, Isabel, Josephine, Matthew Jr., John, Clara, Henry, David, Peter, and Leo Akers of Front Royal, VA; son Christopher (Amanda), Ezra, Roman, Ira, Magnus, Isidore, and Baby #6 Kuznia of Florian, MN; and daughter Jessica, her fiancé Greg Esslinger, and his sons Declan and Eamonn of Shelbyville, IN.

He is survived by sisters-in-law Lois Dostal, Margaret and Julianna Kuznia and Edwardine Szklarski; brothers -in-law James (Kathy) Dostal; and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by brothers-in-law Eugene Kuznia, Hilary Kuznia, John Szklarski; and sister-in-law, Virginia (Chester) Szklarski.

With Mike’s passing, only three of the 107 first cousins on the Albert and Hedwig Kuznia family survive: Vincent and Clarence Kuznia and Cecilia (Kuznia) Hughes that live in the Minnesota Twin Cities area.

Praise be Jesus Christ – Forever and ever, Amen.
Niech bedzie pochwalony Jezus Chrystus
Na wieki wieko Amen!

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: Friday, September 13, 2024, at 10:30 AM, in Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Church, Florian, MN.
VISITATION: Thursday evening, 5:30 PM; Rosary at 6:45 PM; Prayer Service at 7:00 PM; in the Church; and one hour prior to Mass.
INTERMENT: Assumption Catholic Cemetery, Florian.