Marvin Magnuson

Marvin Merle Magnuson, age 83, Crookston, Minnesota, passed away on July 21, 2022, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, with his family at his side.  Marv had a great sense of humor, was good-natured and was especially happy when he was singing and playing his ukulele.  Marv was born to Carl William and Mable (Parker) Magnuson in St. Paul, Minnesota, on September 13, 1938.  He graduated from Alexander Ramsey High School in 1956 and served in the United States Navy from 1956 to 1960.  He married Crookston native, Diane Johnson, on May 19, 1962, and the couple recently celebrated their 60-year anniversary.  They welcomed daughter Kari Lu, born on May 11, 1963, in St. Paul, where the couple resided.

Marv was employed as a computer technician with Univac in St. Paul, and upon the move to Crookston, was in advertising sales for the Grand Forks Herald, a bookkeeper/driver for the Polk County Nursing Service, and ended his working career as a professional truck driver for Paradis, Inc., Brooks, Minnesota. Spare time found Marv gardening, planting fruit trees, and sharing the fruits of his labor with neighbors and friends.

Volunteering was natural to Marv and he served with the Crookston Police Reserve, as an EMT with the Polk County Ambulance Service, led and sang with the Sing-a-Long Group of friends at both care facilities in Crookston (his mother taught him and his brother to sing while doing dishes and at 7 and 8 years old they would go to a nursing home in St. Paul to sing for the residents).  As a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, he sang with the Men’s Chorus, was a charter member of the Crookston Area Men’s Chorus and previously sang with the Grand Forks Barbershop Chorus.  He enjoyed the comradery of acting in musicals and dramas with the Crookston Community Theater and served on the Board of Directors with the Crookston Civic Music League and the Golden Link Senior Center.  A couple of years found him hosting the open house one day a week during the summer at the Polk County Museum.

Family was important to Marv and he looked forward to getting together at Wolf Lake, Hubbard County, Minnesota, fishing with grandsons Kyle and Ryan from the pontoon, walks to the dam at Little Wolf Lake, bird watching, and visiting with neighbors and relatives.  He looked forward to traveling with his family to tropical climates, touring Italy, Spain, Amsterdam/Bruges, Ireland and cruising on the Danube.

The Sing-a-Long Group was nominated for a Care Providers of Minnesota Award in 2014; Marv was named the Golden Link Center and Park and Recreation Experienced American for March, 2015; and was named the Polk County Outstanding Senior Citizen along with Gaye Wick in 2019 with recognition at the Polk County Fair and the Minnesota State Fair.

Marvin was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Mable, his brother, Dennis, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Joseph and Luella Johnson.  He is survived by his wife, Diane, daughter and son-in-law, Kari and Steve Bernardy, grandsons, Kyle and Ryan, sister, Mavis Johnson, sister-in-law Audrey Magnuson, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Dale and Marlene Johnson, sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law, Peggy and David Engh and Betty and Jack Hautaluoma, the Johnson cousins, nieces and nephews, and lifelong friends.

Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church or a charity of your choice.

A memorial service celebrating Marv’s life will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, September 10, 2022, at Trinity Lutheran Church, in Crookston with The Rev. Greg Isaacson officiating.  Visitation with the family will be for one hour prior to the service. There will be a gathering following the service. The funeral will be livestreamed by going to Marv’s obituary page at www.stenshoelhouske.com and clicking on the prompt to view.  Inurnment will take place at the Columbarium in Oakdale Cemetery, Crookston with Military Honors provided by the United States Navy Funeral Honors Team and the Crookston Veterans Council.