The funeral Mass for Owen J. Korsmo will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 21, 2012 at River Park  Chapel of Macken Funeral Home, with the Reverend Paul Nelson officiating.  Visitation will be held from 9:00-11:00 a.m. prior to the service, also at River Park Chapel.  Burial will at a later date at Calvary Cemetery.

Mr. Korsmo died at age 83 on Jan. 17, 2012, at Samaritan Bethany Heights in Rochester, Minn. He was born in Sanish, N.D., on Aug. 1, 1928 to parents Ole and Ruth Korsmo.

Owen spent his youth in Northwood, N.D., where the Korsmo family settled after emigration from Norway. He graduated from Lincoln High School in Thief River Falls, Minn., in 1946. Owen worked after graduation, then enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving in 1951 and 1952.

In 1952, Owen drove high school classmate and Rochester Mustangs hockey player Don Brossoit back to Rochester after Thanksgiving, and there he found a new job and community he would call home for the rest of his life.  Owen was hired by Joe Quiter in his public accounting practice, where he worked for several years, and then co-owned the Parker Hotel with his cousin Norin Korsmo.

Owen met his future wife Gayle Lenarz when he cleverly removed the fuse to her room in their apartment building and valiantly offered to help restore electricity when she knocked on the building manager's door to report the problem.  Gayle and Owen were married in 1955 at St. Francis Church in Rochester.

Family, church, community and work were Owen's passions.  He and Gayle were proud parents of their three sons, always active in their sports and other activities.  He was deeply involved at St. Pius X parish and school, an early leader of the Lourdes Foundation, chair of the YMCA board, and always present for key Chamber of Commerce activities.  He spent many years working with the Rochester Mustangs as treasurer and great supporter.

In 1961, Owen was encouraged by friend and mentor Bud Roesch to become a State Farm Insurance agent.  Owen listened and never looked back, becoming a very successful agent, earning a good living, traveling the world with the rewards of his good work and making many lifelong friends.  After retiring from State Farm in 1989, Gayle and Owen enjoyed many years wintering in Rio Verde, Ariz., where they made many dear friends.

Survivors include his three sons, Jeff (Jenny) of Wichita, Kan., Jim (Laurie) of Rochester, and John of Fairmont, Minn.; six grandchildren (Erin and Gretchen; Mike and Sara; Emily and Haley).  He is preceded in death by his wife, his sister and brother.

Memorials may be given to the charity of the donor's choice, including the Gayle and Owen Korsmo Scholarship of the Lourdes Foundation.  Macken Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.  Online condolences may be offered at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.