Walter "Wally" Herman Kriesel III

Walter Herman Kriesel III, age 78, of Hastings, Minnesota, passed away Wednesday, July 1, 2026. 

US Army Paratrooper Veteran (1968-1972)

Wally Kriesel was born in 1947 to Walter and Ethel Kriesel in St. Paul MN. And had two brothers, Terry and Steve who were his best friends all their lives.

He graduated from Cretin High School in 1965. He enlisted in the US Army in 1966 and was an Airborne Paratrooper with a special security clearance. He was honorably discharged in 1968. He married Shirley Harry in 1968 and they had three boys, Brian, Bill and Bob. Wally lost his wife Shirley and the boys their beloved mother in 1990 from cancer.

Wally spent most of his time on ball fields, football fields and basketball courts supporting and cheering on the boys with whatever they did. He always said the three boys were the biggest accomplishment in his whole life.

Wally met and married the second love of his life Susan in 1997. Susans’ daughters Jenny and Ashley joined all the boys and moved to Rosemount and then to Cottage Grove. They became a family of seven and eventually the children married and added spouses Nicci, Kelly, Mary and Tim. Then the beautiful 10 grandchildren came, Luke (Megan), Bo, Kailee, Macy, Shay, Ruben, Hunter, Dom, Summer, and Addyson.

From then on it was babysitting, sports, school programs and anything else Wally and Susan could do to spend time and celebrate with them. The big family holidays together were what he loved, the laughter, the stories and so much love in one room he was so happy with the life he had.

He worked as a Warehouse Manager for Cenex, Tisco and Sanus Systems and retired in 2014. From then on it was golf, golf and more golf with his sons, grandsons, brother, brother in laws and many friends. He even mowed grass for Rich Valley Golf course for 5 years, best job he ever had. Wally and Susan loved their week in Florida with Susan’s sibling’s and spouses, the warm weather and of course golf. He will be forever in the fairway and forever young.

But his favorite trip was a week with all the kids and grands to Island View Resort in northern MN, he grew up going to as a child himself. He looked forward to it all year. Every grandchild has their favorite memories with him there.

Wally was always happy, cheerful, caring, loving and would help anyone who needed anything. He spent the last 4 years caring for Susan with her illnesses, going to every appointment and making her his top priority everyday to get her better. Susan said she has never met anyone who didn’t love him. He was very lucky to have had two wives who loved and adored him, and a large extended family who did as well. He will forever be missed, and we have all lost a bright light in our lives. He will be forever in the fairway and forever young. 

He is preceded in death by his first wife, Shirley; his parents, Wally and Ethel Kriesel; parents in law, Louie and Barb Flaherty; and his two sisters in law Cheri and Yvonne. Survived by wife, Susan Kriesel; children, Brian Kriesel, Bill (Nicci) Kriesel, Bob (Kelly) Kriesel, Jenny (Tim) Jones, and Ashley Williams; grandchildren, Ruben, Hunter, Macy, Shay, Luke (Megan), Bo, Kailee, Addyson, Dom, and Summer; brothers, Terry Kriesel and Steve Kriesel; many nieces and nephews; and other loving family and friends.

Private family services 9:30 AM-12 PM, Friday, July 10, 2026 at Kok Funeral Home, 7676 80th St. S., Cottage Grove, MN, 55016. Interment to follow at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN.