Donald William Kvasnicka

Donald “Don” Kvasnicka passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. He was born in 1929 to Joseph and Stella Kvasnicka on the family 40-acre farm south of Owatonna. He was the youngest of eight kids, attended a one-room country grade school and graduated from Owatonna High School in 1948. In 1947, Don joined the Army National Guard and later transferred to the Navy Air Reserves Unit at Wold-Chamberlin Field in Minneapolis so that he could enroll at the University of Minnesota. He joined Farmhouse Fraternity making lifelong friends. In 1955 he graduated with a degree in Agriculture Education.

Don met the love of his life, Joanne Grandstrand, while at the University of Minnesota. They married on June 11, 1956 at Corpus Christi Church located by the campus. They moved to Northfield, MN where Don taught agriculture at the high school and their first two sons, Dwight and David, were born. Don then accepted a job with Ralston Purina and was relocated to Marshall, MN where daughter Nancy was born. In 1960 they were transferred to Gaylord, MN where the remaining three children, Jean, Dan and Sue, were born. In 1963 he became a partner in the Northwest Farm Management Co. with two old friends. In 1965 his office was relocated to Mankato, MN where the family has resided since.

In 1974, Don and Joanne started their own business in what became the “Kvasnicka Farm Management & Real Estate Company”. They expanded to include residential and commercial real estate. In 1992, they sold their company to enjoy a semi-retired life of traveling countless miles to follow their 6 children and 15 grandchildren in their activities and lives. In 2006 Don fully retired. He loved traveling the globe, hunting, fishing, golf, sports of all kinds, and cheering on his beloved Golden Gophers.

Don was a devout Catholic and lived his faith. He served in various capacities on boards and committees with many organizations to include Saints Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church, Loyola Catholic School, Mankato Chamber of Commerce, United Way Foundation, Kiwanis, YMCA, Boy Scouts, Camp Patterson, Minnesota State Realtors, National Farm & Land Institute, School Sisters of Notre Dame, Historical Society, Bethany College, Vine, Serra Club, and the Mankato Civic Center.

The entire Kvasnicka family has enjoyed time at Pinecrest, the beloved lake place founded by Don and his friends in the 1960’s. It was the perfect place to watch his family grow and the adventures that came along with that. Don is survived by his loving wife Joanne, children Dwight “Ike” (Cheryl) Kvasnicka, Dave (Christine) Kvasnicka, Nancy Knowlton, Jean (Jim) Bergstrom, Dan (LuAnn) Kvasnicka, and Sue Rogers, 15 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends who will hold his memory close.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate staff at Moments Hospice for the exceptional care provided to Don in his final months.

Visitation will be 2:00-4:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 12th at Northview-North Mankato Mortuary. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 13th at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Mankato with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to Loyola Catholic School, the Mankato Area Foundation, or Saints Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church.