Michael Stienessen

Michael A. Stienessen, age 53, of Willmar, died Monday, May 11, at the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Saturday, May 16,  at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar.  Interment will be in the church cemetery.   Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Friday, May 15, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and one hour prior to the service at the church.

Michael Anthony Stienessen was born August 16, 1961, in Marshall, Minnesota, the son of Dennis and Marilyn (Davidson) Stienessen.  He grew up in Minneota until 1967, when his family moved to Willmar.  He received his education in Willmar and graduated from Willmar High School in 1980.  Mike then attended the Willmar Vo-Tech College and earned a degree in Sales and Marketing.  He worked in retail clothing sales for Hal's, Bostwick's and St. Paul Clothiers.  On September 17, 1988, Mike married DeAnn "Nina" Strey.  Mike continued to work in retail clothing until 1995, when he went back to Ridgewater College to earn his degree in Electronics.  While in school, Mike began working at CashWise Liquors in Willmar and continued to work there part-time after completing school and beginning his career as a copier technician for Bennett Office Technologies in Willmar.

Mike was a collector and had over 20,000 songs on his iPod and over 1,000 movies to go along with his baseball card and beer can collections.  He  loved hanging out with his friends and family and attending his children's sporting events and concerts.  He also loved the family dogs, Norman, Cody, and Francis, which were all rescued from shelters.

Mike is survived by his wife of 26 years, Nina; two children, Eliana and Tyler; his parents, Dennis and Marilyn Stienessen of Willmar; a brother, Dean (and Beth) Stienessen of St. Cloud; two nieces, Cassidy and Morgan; and other relatives and friends.

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