Francis Jurgens

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, August 26, 2019, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Charles Catholic Church in Big Stone City, SD, for 81-year-old, Francis “Slim” Jurgens, of Ortonville. Slim passed away on August 2, 2019, following a surgical procedure, and a fatal heart attack. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service on Monday at the church. Padre David Garza will officiate. Inurnment will be at a later date at Mound Cemetery.

Francis G. Jurgens was born on February 6, 1938, in Ortonville, to Albert and Mayme (Kockx) Jurgens. He grew up in Ortonville and graduated from Ortonville High School in 1956. Slim attended the Minnesota School of Business in Minneapolis, where he met Marylin Haasl of Park Falls, Wisconsin. Slim and Marylin were married on August 22, 1959 and moved to Ortonville in 1960.

Slim was a volunteer fireman for 25 years. Slim and Marylin owned and operated the Sears Catalog Store and the First Street Car Wash for 40 years. He was a member of the Army National Guard for 10 years, until he was injured and received an honorable discharge. Slim belonged to the Big Stone American Legion Gertje Van Lith Post #229.

Slim was a great outdoorsman; he loved the woods and water. In his younger years he spent his spare time hunting, fishing, bowling and golfing. He was an avid Vikings fan. Slim always had a smile for everyone. If you ask Marilyn what the secret for a successful sixty-year marriage is, she would say “he made me laugh”.

Slim is survived by his wife Marylin, Ortonville, MN; sisters: Beverly Cloos, Big Stone City, SD; Susan Roggenbuck, Blaine, MN; sisters-in-law: Alice (Ray) Deckelman, Wasau, WI; Sylva Bush, Mosinee, WI; nine nieces and nephews; many cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers-in-law: Gene Cloos, Steve Roggenbuck, Cliff Bush, John Haasl; sisters-in-law: Mavis Magrecke and Doria Mayer.