Kermit Thorsland, of Appleton, died Sunday, July 14, 2013 at Appleton Nursing Home at the age of 89. Memorial services will be held Sunday, July 21, 2013 at 1:30 PM at Big Bend Lutheran Church with Rev. Keith Long officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be held for one hour before services at the church on Sunday.
Kermit Thorsland was born April 12, 1924 in Big Bend Township of Chippewa County, MN to Henry and May (Tibbits) Thorsland. He was baptized at the Big Bend Lutheran Church on June 8, 1924 and was later confirmed April 24, 1938. Kermit attended and graduated from Appleton High School. Kermit was honorably discharged from the Army in 1946 and was united in marriage to Ruth Saue April 20, 1947 at Jevnaker Lutheran Church. Kermit farmed in the Big Bend area for many years. He worked for the US Census Bureau and became the Postmaster in Milan in 1967. He became the postmaster in Appleton in 1974 and retired in 1987. Kermit was very active in the VFW, American Legion, and Lions Club. He enjoyed golfing, bowling, fishing, dancing, and playing cribbage. Kermit was a very active member at the Big Bend Lutheran Church where he was a Sunday school teacher and council member. He also loved to sing and was a member of the church choir and the Watson Male Chorus. Kermit suffered a severe stroke on January 10, 1993. He received the MN Community Education Association community involvement award in the fall of 1993. Kermit was a loving husband and wonderful dad and grandpa who loved spending time with family and friends at home and at their cabin on Ottertail Lake.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Ruth Thorsland; children, Mick (Mary Jean) Thorsland of Bloomington, MN and Mark (Terri) Thorsland of Milan, MN; six grandchildren: Cory (Lori) Thorsland, Traci (Kyle) Kennedy, Alissa Thorsland, Tricia O’Hara, Crist (Sara) Thorsland, and Maari (Justin) Berg; and eight great-grandchildren: Carter, Parker, Spencer, Bryn, Kaison, Kaia, Rowen, and Gradon.
He is preceded in death by his parents; great-granddaughter: Megan Thorsland; brothers, Emmett (Madge) and Ray (Mary) Thorsland; sisters, Lila (Harold) Schirmer and Sidonia (Joe) Lynne.