Virgil Vahl

Steen, MN Virgil Ray Vahl, age 56 of Steen, MN died Monday, January 21, 2013 at The Hospice Cottage in Luverne, MN. Funeral service will be 10:00 AM, Satuday, Jan. 26th, at the Reformed Church of Steen, MN, with Pastor Mike Altena officiating. Burial will follow at East Side Cemetery in Steen. Visitation will be Friday, Jan. 25th from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m., with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Jurrens Funeral Home in Hills, MN. Virgil Ray Vahl was born September 27, 1956 in Sioux Falls, SD to Harold and Arlene (Van Bruggen) Vahl. He lived with his family on a farm near Colton, SD, and he attended the Colton Christian Elementary School. His family moved to a farm near Edgerton, MN when Virgil was in the 2nd grade, then he attended the Edgerton Christian Elementary School and graduated from Southwest Christian High School in Edgerton in 1975. He furthered his education at the Granite Falls Vocational School studying Hydraulics. Virgil made profession of faith at the First Christian Reformed Church in Edgerton. On January 2, 1976 he was united in marriage to Rozella Schouwenburg at her familys farm near Steen. Virgil worked for his Dad as a hired man on the farm for a year before working for Lee Tinklenberg Construction Company building pole barns, grain bins and doing concrete work. In 1979 Virgil, Rozella and their two young sons, Jon and Eric moved to Rozellas family farm where they farmed for 19 years. They became members of the Steen Reformed Church. In 2006 Virgil and Rozella moved to their present home in Steen, MN. He attended the NCC Community College Welding program at Sheldon, IA, and then worked for Demco in Boyden. He was then offered a job with Pella Window Company in Sioux Center, IA where he worked for 10 years. During this time he also worked for FBT Saw Mill near Steen, before suffering a major stroke in August, 2010. After the stroke Virgil and Rozella enjoyed traveling to Mesa, AZ for several months in the winter. In August, 2012, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He became a resident of The Cottage, the Hospice House in Luverne, in October, 2012. Virgil was a warmhearted and outgoing person with a wonderful sense of humor. He always treated people with dignity and could brighten anyones day and easily made people smile. Virgil loved motorcycles, and enjoyed every minute of it, from riding on dirt bikes in gravel pits as a young man to making several trips to Sturgis to the Motorcycle Rally on his Harley Davidson Ultra Glide. Virgil was a man of many talents and was known for being able to fix anything. One of his favorite places to be was a well-equipped work shop. He also enjoyed waterskiing, but mostly Virgil loved spending time with his family. On January 21, 2013, Virgil passed away surrounded by his family at The Cottage in Luverne, MN. He is survived by his wife, Rozella Vahl of Steen, MN; sons, Jon Vahl of Rock Rapids, IA; and Eric Vahl of Steen, MN; mother, Arlene Vahl of Edgerton, MN; brothers, Duane (Cheri) Vahl of Sioux Falls, SD and Lowell (Debbie) Vahl of Mesa, AZ; sisters, Gloria Vande Brake of Big Lake, MN, Gladys (Greg) Brouwer of Garner, IA, and Faye (Curt) Schuur of Chandler, MN; nieces; nephews and other extended family members. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, his father, Harold Vahl; parents-in-law, Bert and Jennie Schouwenburg and brother-in-law, Al Vande Brake.