Esther J Kanzenbach

Esther J. Kanzenbach August 9, 1938 - February 26, 2015

Esther J. Kanzenbach, age 76, of Albert Lea, MN, and formerly of Faribault, MN, passed away February 26, 2015, at the St. John''s Lutheran Community in Albert Lea.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 2, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at the Parker Kohl Funeral Home in Faribault, with Pastor Lee Freshour, officiating. Interment will be at the Meadow Ridge Memorial Park in Faribault.

Visitation will be held on Monday from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home.

Esther Joan was born on August 9, 1938, in rural St. Ansgar, Iowa, to Joseph and Mary (Crooks) Beyer. After high school, Esther attended Mankato Commercial College to be a legal secretary. She then worked for an attorney in Mapleview, MN. She was married to Robert Kanzenbach on October 11, 1959. They moved to Faribault where Esther in addition to being a homemaker for her family also worked as a bookkeeper for C.J.''s in Faribault and George Wickstrom''s Northwestern Mutual Insurance agency. Other jobs included the Nelson''s bakery and as a machinist at K&G Manufacturing. She worked in the office at Wilson''s before providing tailoring services to individuals and businesses, along with wedding cakes and dresses for many. Her last employment was with the State Bank of Faribault. Esther then was able to spend more time with her passion for painting, which included watercolors and batiking. She enjoyed painting Ukrainian eggs and teaching others the craft, along with displaying her craft at art shows. Esther was a member of the Faribault and Albert Lea Art Centers. Besides art, she enjoyed gardening, canning, and was very musically gifted, playing many different instruments. She and Rob retired to Ault, Colorado for six years. He preceded her in death on November 27, 2005.

She is survived by her children, Greg Kanzenbach of Greeley, CO, Brian (Suzanne) Kanzenbach of New Ulm, MN, and Heidi (Victor) Price of Geneva, MN; 12 grandchildren; 4 great grandchildren; 12 siblings, Frederick (Jan) Beyer, Edward (Carol) Beyer, Paul (Linda) Beyer, Marian Bell, Charles (Esther) Beyer, Verona (Norman) Spooner, Jorene Gunderson (James Iverson), Joseph (Pam) Beyer, Leone (Don) Kofoot, Myrna (Greg)

Klemesrud, Ruth Evans, and Sharon (Tony) Brown; in-laws, Laverne "Ernie" (Pat) Kanzenbach, Mary (Bernie) Bongers, Pamela (Jeff) Subra, and Olga Beyer; and many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert; parents; son, Frederick Kanzenbach; and brother, Richard Beyer.