Kenneth Ervan Moritz

Obituary

Kenneth Ervan Moritz was born on October 15,1922 to Ervan and Henrietta (Wiehr) Moritz on the family farm north of Buffalo Lake, Minnesota. Along with his family, he attended the United Evangelical Church in Buffalo Lake. He received his early education in District 57 at the brick schoolhouse, which was a mile away from the family farm. After the eighth grade, he completed his studies at the high school in Buffalo Lake.

On October 28, 1950, Kenneth married Phyllis Johnson at the Crystal Free Church in Crystal, Minnesota. They lived in the Brooklyn Center area for a short period before moving back to a farm north of Buffalo Lake which they called home for the next fifty plus years. Dairy was their main livelihood for most of those years, although the dairy herd was eventually sold and was replaced with raising feeder pigs. Ken “officially” retired from farming in 1994, although he continued to help his renter with the fieldwork for many years and found a new hobby sampling sweet corn and peas for Green Giant. They eventually moved into town in 2007.

Ken and his wife Phyllis were lifelong members of the Evangelical United Brethren Church, which later became the Zion United Methodist Church, in Buffalo Lake. They had one son, Paul Kenneth, born on March 9, 1956. He is married to Jayleen Ryberg and they have two children, a daughter Bailey, age 22, and a son Ben, age 17. Ken was also a second dad to nephew Chuck Werner and his wife Natalie of Hector, Minnesota, as well as a special grandfather to their children, Remington and Austin.

Ken and his wife Phyllis, who passed away in 2008, always found joy in their nieces and nephews. Despite the demands of a dairy farm, they could always find time to attend birthdays, sporting events, reunions, graduations and weddings. Ken was also an avid walker in his retirement years. He walked the field roads of the farm almost every day and when they were covered in snow, he would simply pull out his snowshoes to continue his daily routine. After moving to town, he maintained his walking, and he and his reflective vest became a common sight around town.

Early Wednesday morning, January 13, 2016, Ken passed away at the Buffalo Lake Healthcare Center, having reached the age of 93 years.  Blessed be his memory.

Ken is survived by his:

Son, Paul and his wife Jayleen Ryberg of Redmond, Washington;

Grandchildren Bailey Moritz and Ben Moritz;

Special Nephew Chuck Werner and his wife Natalie of Hector, Minnesota and their children Remington and Austin Werner;

Brother Dale Moritz and his wife Jan of Buffalo Lake, Minnesota;

Sister Martie Anderson of Minneapolis, Minnesota;

and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, Ervan and Henrietta; his wife Phyllis; Sister Pearl Stresman; and Brothers-in-law Morris Johnson and Kenneth Stresman; Sister Doris Wanlund; Sister Delores Moritz in infancy; Sisters-in-law Mildred (Millie) Werner and husband Floyd, Ruth Finley and husband Tex, and Elizabeth Lutes and husband Bob; and Brothers-in-law Oscar Johnson and wife Elsie, Woodrow Johnson and wife Harriet, Clifford Johnson and wife Helen, Loren Johnson and wife Mary, and Edmond Johnson and wife Florence.