Arthur Ray Kaul

Dad/grandpa/great grandpa was a 4th generation farmer in Oronoco township and was engaged in farming his entire life. His great grandfather, Peter Kaul, arrived in this area in 1866/1867 and had two farmsteads at Douglas corners. A farm was given to each of his sons Peter & Philip (Arthur’s grandfather). Arthur M.P. Kaul, son of Phillip Kaul farmed on 90th street just up the road from Arthur R Kauls farm and on 100th street east of 52. As a young man, Arthur R worked road construction with Gordan Rietmann’s Road construction company and put in corn with his father until he bought his own farm on 90th Street NW Oronoco. Today, Arthur R’s son Brian and his sons, Jacob and Mitchell, manage the family farms.

Dad married our mother and the love of his life, Mary J. Runge (Pine Island), on September 10, 1960. They built a new home on 100th street (Oronoco) and then later purchased and moved to their current farm on 90th street in 1971. They enjoyed 62 years of hard work, love and family. While Brian has been engaged in farming, Debra and Julie achieved bachelor degrees in business, were employed at Mayo for many years, and both live near-by.

Dad was fun…he was known for assigning a few nicknames - the most iconic were those assigned to his mom and sister Kathy. He called his mom “Big Thunder” and Kathy was referenced as “Lightening” her entire life…his reasoning being they were not the speed of lightening/thunder when it came time to go somewhere!

Dad’s life was definitely not just farming. He enjoyed the neighborhood 500 card club each winter and gained some lifelong friendships from doing so. He had a great memory and recited many life stories. He loved that we spent time documenting family stories and learning more about our extensive family tree and heritage. If you have been to Mom & Dads, at entry you know deer hunting was his thing. He shot his “once in a lifetime” buck in his early 20’s with many deer to follow. He enjoyed fishing and took his young family to the Zumbro River behind “Lester’s Farm” (Lester Riess) and then later to Sioux Lookout (Ontario) a number of times each summer…. always telling us as that “Pocahontas was here last.”

Arthur had one sister, Kathleen Krudwig (husbands - Keith Rietmann & James Krudwig) and many nieces (Lori, Jan, Connie, Kari, Joanna and Kerry) many of whom remain in this area. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Kathleen Krudwig and his niece, Kerry.

Arthur Kaul – husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather was a farmer. The farm is the core of his children’s and grandchildren’s lives. It is where we go for family gatherings, it is where we collect rocks, pick wild berries, watch wild life, and for some of us - where we work, raise cattle and crops but most of all, it is where we all see God’s blessings.

Art’s grandchildren and great grandchildren were very important to him. With all of us living close, daily farm activities, work and college experiences and easily organized family dinners have kept mom and dad deeply engrained in everyone’s life.