Cletus Nicholas Tacheny

Mankato Mortuary
1001 North Riverfront Drive
Mankato, MN 56001
507-388-2202


Cletus Tacheny, age 92, of Mankato died on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at Oaklawn Health Care Center in Mankato.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 2:00 pm Friday, August 8 at SS. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Mankato. Visitation will be held Thursday, August 7, 2014 at Mankato Mortuary from 4:00 p.m to 7:00 p.m. with a 3:45 p.m. prayer service. Visitation will continue Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m at the church. Burial will take place in Calvary Cemetery with full military honors.

Cletus was born in rural Mankato on January 30, 1922 to John and Magdalena Tacheny. He attended SS Peter and Paul school and graduated in 1939 from Loyola High School. While attending Mankato Commercial College he enlisted in the US Navy in 1942 and served in the South Pacific and China. He was discharged in 1946. He married his wife, Christine Schneider on April 15, 1947 at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Mankato. He worked as a carpenter in Mankato until the fall of 1947, when he moved with his new wife to the farm where he spent the next 60 years. On that farm with its big brick house, he and Christine raised eight boys and four girls, teaching them the value of hard work. He joined the National Farmers Organization in 1962 and he worked for NFO as a grain representative for 18 counties. During this time he served 20 years as the secretary of the Minnesota State NFO. As a man of faith, he was always active in his local parish at SS Peter and Paul; answering the call whenever asked. His service included 40 years as a Sunday usher and on the finance board. He was a member of the River of Life Prayer Community.

Cletus was a dedicated husband, father and
grandfather. He was an avid reader, gardener, and woodworker. As a natural leader, Cletus taught his children not to be followers, but to build their own dreams.

Cletus is survived by his children, John (Patricia) Tacheny of Woodbury, Jay Tacheny (Keith Rains) of Denver, CO, Margaret (Gary) Nelson of Mankato, Jim (Brenda) Tacheny of Mankato, Mark (Cathy) Tacheny of Greentown, IN, Bill (Peg) Tacheny of Madison Lake, Paul (Mary Feist) of Mankato, Greg (Rose) Tacheny of Cold Spring, Tim (Amy) Tacheny of Richmond, IL, Tom (Laurie) Tacheny of Mankato, Terese (Mike) Ziniel of Lafayette, CO, Ann (Brad) Parno of River Falls, WI; 30 grandchildren; 18 great grandchildren; siblings, Sr. Mary Tacheny, Eleanor Caven and Tom Tacheny.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Christine; parents; sisters, Delphine Lovell and Louise Czaplewski; daughter-in-law, Diane.