Alan Lee Joosten, age 73, of St. Peter passed away on Thursday, October 1, 2020. Funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, October 10, 2020 at the St. Peter Lutheran Church. Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. -7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 9, 2020 at the St. Peter Funeral Home. Visitation will also continue one hour prior to the service on Saturday, at the church. Burial will be in Woodland Hills Memorial Park Cemetery.
Alan Lee Joosten was born in Tyler, Minnesota on March 28, 1947 to parents Henry and Eileen Joosten. Alan graduated from Balaton High School in 1965 where he was a high school All-State football player. Alan attended two years of vocational school in Pipestone, MN for carpentry. He was a carpenter for thirty years, where one of his most memorable jobs was when he worked at the Minnesota Institute of Arts. Al also spent his time working on a Hormel Packing plant in 1981, he worked on numerous Super Targets, and he was also a Millwright for 10 years. In 1974, and 1976, Al was a state champion arm wrestler. Al was in the National Guard for 21 years, and always had a love for his country. Alan married JoAnn Anderson (Gilsrud) on January 30, 1982 where they were married for 38 years. Al was known as “Big Al” to most, and could come off very intimidating when you first met him, but he always had a big soft spot for his grandchildren, and dog of 16 years, Fluffy.
Alan is survived by his wife JoAnn (Joanie) Joosten; 3 sons- Wade (Sandy) Anderson, Ryan (Mary) Joosten, and James (Kamra) Joosten; 5 grandchildren, Erica (Jesse) Kaderlik, Jonathan Anderson, Rebecca Anderson, Mitchel Joosten, Parker Joosten; 5 step-grandchildren, Nick, Ana, William, Jena, and Ehrich Knaack, and his younger sister, June of Beaumont Texas.
Alan is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Eileen Joosten; 4 grandparents, Frank and Martha Schentzel, John and Ora Joosten, and his beloved dog, Fluffy Joosten.