Michael Owen Schluender

Michael Owen Schluender, 71 year old resident of Royalton, MN died Wednesday, November 30 at his home in Royalton, MN. A Private Family Service will be held at a later time.

Michael was born on July 19, 1951 in Alexandria, MN to Lawrence and Darlene (Owens) (Ibler) Schluender. He grew up in the Osakis area. He attended Alexandria Tech and received a law enforcement degree. Michael also attended the University of Wisconsin River Falls. He was united in marriage to LoAnne (Lyon) Schluender September 22, 1973 in Swanville, MN and the couple later divorced in 2003.

Mike was an entrepreneur with many interests. After tech college, he went straight into undercover work in southern MN. A big part of his life was heavy equipment with his dad and brother, building roads all over MN. He was an operator, mechanic, and a great welder. He did a lot of farm mechanics, milked a lot of cows, picked a lot of rock, and did all the hard work that goes into farming.

Mike built several self-employed businesses. He was a skilled strawberry farmer - 14 acres. He was a talented woodworking craftsman and a member of the Sustainable Forestry Initiative. He was a successful over-the-road truck driver. He was an excellent professional handyman and could fix literally anything. Mike was a problem-solver through and through. During his retirement, Mike got to attend three years of general studies at the University in River Falls, WI. His love for learning was dedicated and vast his entire life. He loved college and took a broad perspective. The classes he talked most about were Public Speaking, Oceanography, Astronomy, Food Science, Criminal Justice, Music Appreciation, and Engineering, but his favorite one was Logic.

The hobbies Mike enjoyed the most were fishing and hunting, woodworking, snowmobiling, old cars, guns and reloading, being outdoors, planting fruit trees, gardening, dance class, cooking full-course meals for his family, picking on his grandkids, and being in nature. Reading everything from National Geographic and Popular Mechanics to Stephen King, Star Trek, and Clive Cussler was a constant pleasure. Recently he enjoyed learning on YouTube, politics, and Boston Legal. He had many pets over the years. Zeke and Brandy were his most beloved, and they went everywhere with him.

Mike was funny and had a clever wit. He could win nearly any argument with reason, logic, and perspective. His smile was genuine, and his eyes said it all. He loved his friends and family very much. He showed it by sharing his knowledge, perspective, teaching, and with many, many acts of service.

Mike was a one-of-a-kind renaissance man who made us better for having known him and he left the world a better place.

Left to cherish his memory are his daughter Erika (Schluender) Powers of Independence, WI; granddaughter, Samantha (Tolifson) and Bryant Westrom of Dexter, MN; his son, Owen and Michelle (Droogsma) Schluender of Royalton, MN; granddaughter, Amelia; grandson, Kaden; sister, Barb (Schluender) & Denny Fjeld of Little Falls, MN, and sister-in-law, Wendy Schluender of Minneapolis, MN.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Darlene and brother, Steven Schluender.

Emblom Brenny Funeral Service is Cherishing the Memory and Celebrating the Life of Mike. The family would like to thank CentraCare Hospice for the wonderful care and support