Obituary of Douglas Merlin Emerson

Doug was born June 11, 1930 in Howard, South Dakota, the first child of Marie (Anderson) and Reuben Emerson. He died March 2, 2024 at home in Faribault, Minnesota.

Doug's first nine years of school were in Howard, South Dakota, and in Minnesota in Dunnell and Litchfield.  The family then moved to Wykoff, Minnesota, where his father had purchased the lumber/implement business and where Doug graduated from high school.  He attended one year at Gustavas Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota.  He then returned to Wykoff to work for his father and married his high school sweetheart, Lois Affeldt, December 30, 1949.  Three children:  David, Jane and Timothy, completed their family.

In the mid 1950's, Doug went to work for James Mfg. as the youngest salesman they had ever hired.  During this employment, the family lived in Rochester.  In 1962, he joined the sales staff of Lester's Inc., making a move necessary.  Kenyon was chosen and the area has been home since.  In the mid 1970's, he and Lois purchased a farm in Holden Township living there for twenty good years.  Upon retirement from Lester's, Doug decided to "try" farming corn and soybeans, eventually renting more land and enjoying his newly found career.  When the farm was sold, he and Lois bought into Kenyon's first townhome project.

Doug and Lois were avid motorhomers traveling far and wide - from the Artic Circle to Panama.  They also enjoyed many excursions abroad.  A much anticipated and treasured yearly time for Doug was the annual Canadian fishing trip with longtime friends and family.  Card games and golf were favorite pastimes.  After retiring, Doug did volunteer driving for Goodhue County and Faith in Action and he called weekly bingo at the Kenyon Sunset Home for ten years.

Doug is survived by son David and Bev, Chris, Christa, Porter and Hadley Emerson; daughter Jane and Steve Nesseth, Emmy, Kevin, Hannah, Henry and Hudson Kruger, Erin, Bruce, Grayson and Dalton Hillman, Tyler Buecksler (Linzy), and Carly, Cameron and Evelyn Ziehme; son Tim, Zachary, Sadie (Max) and Nathaniel and Caroline Emerson; sister-in-law, Marilyn Emerson, nieces, nephews and cousins.  Lois preceded Doug in death September 7, 2021.  They were married for 71 years.

A time of visitation and remembrance will be hosted by the family on Saturday, June 8, 2024 from 12:00-3:00 pm at St. Michael's Parish Hall, 108 Bullis St, Kenyon, MN. Lunch will be served.

No flowers please. The family respectfully requests any memorial gifts be designated to Holden Park, First English Lutheran Church Radio Fund, or St. Croix Hospice.