Michael Syverson

Michael J. Syverson, age 75, of Alexandria, died on Saturday, September 4, 2021, at Alomere Health.

Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11 a.m., Wednesday, September 8, 2021, at St. Mary’s Church with Father Matthew Kuhn officiating. Full military honors accorded by the Minnesota Air Force Honor Guard, American Legion Post #87, Veteran of Foreign Wars Post #936, Vietnam Veterans of American Chapter #235, and the Marine Corps League Detachment #1409.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.

Michael John was born on December 28, 1945, to Lloyd and Margaret (Diederich) Syverson in Benson. He was raised on a farm near Kerkhoven where he attended school. Mike was baptized and confirmed at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Murdock. After high school graduation in 1963, he spent four years in the Air Force working on the navigation systems of F4 fighter aircraft. He was stationed in Texas, Mississippi, California, Alaska, Thailand, and the Philippines. Following his honorable discharge, Mike attended Willmar Junior College from 1967-1969, and Southwest Minnesota State College in Marshall from 1969 until his graduation in 1971. Mike began working for the Social Security Administration in 1971, as a claims representative in Elgin, Illinois. He also worked in Aurora, Chicago and Austin, Minnesota before moving to Alexandria as office manager in 1995. Mike was united in marriage to Jane Heiling on June 9, 1972, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Willmar. To this union, a son, Matthew Michael was born on June 11, 1990, in Austin. Following retirement in 2010, and receiving many awards, Mike continued his community service.

He was a member of the Austin Early Risers Kiwanis Club for eight years and the Alexandria Noon Club for eight years as well. He was a member of the Alexandria Golden K Kiwanis Club since March of 2010, where he was an advisor and founder of the Vikingland Aktion Club, past president, board member and secretary. Mike was very active in the community as he had a passion to help others including volunteering at the Alex Food Shelf, as a tax preparer, delivering Meals on Wheels, Let’s Go Fishing, Caring and Sharing, and as a lunch buddy to several elementary school boys. Mike was a past president and board member of the Douglas County DAC, past Lake Victoria Association board member and president and past St. Mary’s School Trust Fund board member and president. He was an active member of St. Mary’s Church where he served as communion minister, greeter, and different committees as needed. His hobbies included reading, gardening, fishing, hunting, and doing what he could to preserve the natural environment.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant sister, Mary Anne; brother, Donald; and brother-in-law, Jack Masters.

Mike is survived by his wife of 49 years, Jane; son, Matthew (very significant, Courtney Keel) Syverson of Toledo, Ohio; sister, JoAnn Masters of Granite Falls; sister-in-law, Terri Syverson of Kerkhoven, other relatives and a host of friends.

Urnbearers are Matthew Syverson, Jerry Kostreba, Gary Zavadil, and Jason Gehrke.