John “Mike” Michael Kimmet was born July 6, 1943, in Estherville, Iowa, the son of Louis W. and Anna (Petersen) Kimmet. He attended school in Ringsted, Iowa and graduated from Ringsted High School with the class of 1961. On Sept. 26, 1964, Mike was united in marriage to Kay Pedersen at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Fairmont, Minn. Together, the couple would make their home in Ringsted for two years before making the move to a farm near Fairmont. Mike and Kay would also welcome home three children, Mary, Lisa and David. From a young age, Mike knew the value of a strong work ethic. At just 11 years old, Mike worked at the area dry cleaners. He would go on to work for John Deere in Ringsted at the age of 13 and would continue working there until moving to Fairmont. Following Mike and Kay’s move to Fairmont, Mike worked for Gouls Concrete in addition to farming and raising pigs. He worked for a brief time at Universal Poly Film and in the evenings, Mike drove truck for Polzin’s. In 1998, Mike retired from raising pigs and started Kimmet Tree Service and began hauling firewood. Mike found great joy in completing a difficult task. Whether it was hauling a truck load of wood or heading out the garage and pumping iron even later in life, he was never one to shy away from a challenge. Mike treasured time spent out on the lake, trying his luck at catching the next story making fish and loved the memories made heading north to Canada on fishing trips for over 30 years. He had a passion for junking and was always on the lookout for the next thrown away “treasure.” He was a sharpshooter, taking home many trophies and winning many competitions in trap shooting and was a member of the American Trap Association. Despite Mike’s large stature, he had a soft heart, especially when it came to his many four-legged friends that he had through the years, Prince, Ginger, Floppy, Samantha, Max, Smokey and Roxey. Mike loved his family and cherished spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Kay Kimmet of Fairmont, Minn.; children, Mary (Jim) Neil of Shakopee, Minn., Lisa Tschetter of Sioux Falls, S.D. and David (Marri) Kimmet of Fairmont; grandchildren, Michael (Sam) Broders, Jennifer (Luca) Broders-Canali, Bryan Broders and special friend, Jing Du, Bailey Tschetter, Sydney (Kris) Blume, Abbey Tschetter, Jordan Kimmet, Caleb Kimmet and his fiancé, Savannah; two great-grandchildren, Scarlett Rose Kimmet and Piper Rose Blume; brother, Tom (Carol) Kimmet; sisters, Alice Jacobson and Louise Carley; as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends. Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Anna Kimmet; two sons-in-law, James and Scott; three sisters, Mert, Judy, and Connie; brother, George; several in-laws; and other extended family. www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net

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