Anthony Kjaglien

Anthony “Tony” Peter Kjaglien, 39, a resident of Fergus Falls, passed away March 26, 2010, in Hubbard County, Minnesota. He was born September 19, 1970, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the son of Peter and Judith (Irish) Kjaglien. He attended elementary school at Jefferson Elementary in Fergus Falls, and the Fergus Falls Senior High School, graduating in 1989. Following high school he attended NDSCS in Wahpeton, ND, and Northern State University in Aberdeen, SD. On July 8, 2006 he married Michelle Lynn Karst on the beach in Negril, Jamaica. They made their home in Fergus Falls. Tony worked as a youth counselor at Catholic Charities in Fergus Falls from 1997 – 2003. He then was employed in the Special Education Department of Kofa Senior High School in Yuma, Arizona from 2003 – 2004. In 2004 he began his employment with the Fergus Falls School District, working with the Special Education Department. Tony loved working with his students and colleagues. Tony was a man of sports. He participated in high school baseball, basketball, and football. During his college career he was co-captain of the Northern State University football team, where he received All Conference, and All American honors, as well as Most Valuable Offensive Lineman. As a co-captain he also played a big role in leading Northern State to a Conference Championship in 1992. Tony was an excellent team leader and player who demonstrated his talents on and off the field. He coached football, girls and boys basketball, and track for Fergus Falls Public Schools, and coached in Yuma, AZ as well. He especially loved participating in football, watching football, and playing and watching golf. He opened his arms, his heart and soul, and his home welcoming family and friends to celebrate life. His most cherished time was spent with his wife, Michelle, and son, Sean. Preceding him in death were his grandparents, Philip and Annette Kjaglien and Erwin and Catherine Irish. Survivors include his wife, Michelle, and son, Sean Kjaglien of Fergus Falls; his parents, Peter and Judi Kjaglien of Fergus Falls; a sister, Kathy Kjaglien (Glenn Barton) and nephews Peter & Henry Barton of Mentor, OH; a brother, Matt Kjaglien of Waconia, MN; an aunt, Phyllis Kjaglien (Bob Hoffman) of Waconia, MN; his mother-in-law, Alice Karst of Fergus Falls; his father-in-law, Bill Karst of Fergus Falls; sisters-in-law, Mary (Kirk) Stueve and nephews Caden and Carter of Shafer, MN, and Rachel Karst and niece Sophia of Fergus Falls; a brother-in-law, David (Erin) Karst of Minneapolis; as well as many cousins, and countless friends. “We were all touched by the brilliance and power of Tony’s loving inner energy. We gathered like moths in the glow of his bright light and instead of burning any of us, he asked us to accept each other as friends and encouraged us to fly together. He has released and returned his life energy to us for reasons I accept [we] will never understand. Peace passes all understanding. While Tony loved to talk and sing and dance and giggle ‘peace and love’, he also demonstrated daily, in each human interaction, how to mindfully and purposefully walk the talk of Peace and Love with a big lumbering stride as he paced and skipped energetically through each of our lives. I know he is in us all. His spirit is surfing the great cosmic groove and I feel his presence. So do you. Ride the waves, friends. You’re not riding alone, and you never will be.” Visitation: 4-7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home and resumes one hour prior to the service at the church. Service:  2 p.m. Thursday, April 1, 2010, at First Lutheran Church in Fergus Falls Clergy: Reverend Saul Stensvaag Funeral Home: Olson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to his son, Sean Kjaglien’s, scholarship fund at American Federal Bank, 117 S. Mill Street, Fergus Falls. MN 56537 Condolences may be sent online at www.olsonfuneralhome.com