Christopher Paul Dahl, 67, of Crookston, MN, passed away at his home early Thursday evening, March 11, 2021, after dealing with failing health issues for the past several years.
Chris was born in Pontiac, MI on January 16, 1954, the oldest of 13 children of the union of Duane V. and Mary E. (Beckley) Dahl. While growing up in Detroit he was baptized and confirmed in the Catholic faith and attended Epiphany and Gesu parishes. During his high school years, Chris worked for his father in his auto parts manufacturing business know as KBC Inc. and delivered the Detroit Free Press newspaper. After graduation from Detroit Catholic Central High School in 1972, he worked in manufacturing and construction support for several years. On January 4, 1975, he was united in marriage to Mary Christine Lessens in St. Mary’s Church, Lowell, MI. Their marriage would be blessed by the births of 5 children: April, Shannon, Jacob, Christopher, and Kathryn; and saddened by the miscarriages of babies 6 and 7.
Chris and Mary made their first home in Grand Rapids, MI where he attended Aquinas College, majoring in Accounting. Chris began middle management with McDonald’s. In 1979 they moved to Southfield, MI while Chris was employed in middle management for Michigan Barricading. They later spent 5 years in Fargo, ND until moving to Wisconsin in 1987 where Chris was employed in the Graphics Department of Oscar Mayer in Madison; and then as a Personal Financial Analyst for Primerica in the cities Hartford and Waukesha. Working with people and helping to make their lives better was his joy. In 2015 Crookston, MN became home as Chris retired and Mary accepted a position as liturgist and music director for the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception as well as the Director of the Office of Worship for the Diocese of Crookston. Chris was an active member of the parishes wherever he and Mary, and their growing family lived. He served on the Parish Council of St. Kilian’s in Hartford and enjoyed being a greeter and usher at St. Mary’s in Waukesha.
Vegetable gardening was a lifelong passion for Chris and growing tomatoes became his specialty. He painstakingly planted all of his seeds in soil prepared with his “special recipe” and nurtured the plants through the growing season while looking forward to the time when he would joyfully share the fruits of his labor with family and friends.
Chris was a very proud and loving husband, father, and grandfather and will be very sadly missed by Mary, his wife, and best friend for over 46 years and their 5 children: April (Gary) Koppen of Horicon, WI, Shannon Allen of Beaver Dam, WI, Jacob (Katy) Dahl of Defuniak Springs, FL, Christopher Dahl and fiancée, Joan Huffman, of Waukesha, WI, and Kathryn Dahl of Two Rivers, WI; and 8 grandchildren: Stephanie Fallin, Angela Dahl, Anakin Koppen, Ethan Allen, and Noel, Elijah, Jett, and Genevieve Dahl. He also leaves his 12 siblings: Karen Dahl of OK, Eric (Ann Marie) Dahl of AZ; J. Kerstan (Jeanette) Dahl of CO; Carla (Don) Sperry of AZ; Kimery Dahl, Christine Hagan, Craig (Deborah) Dahl, Mary Celeste Conrad, Caroline (David) Wilson, Claire Young, Quentin Dahl, and Charles (Lauri) Dahl, all of MI; along with many nieces, nephews, and extended family. Chris was preceded in death by his 2 ‘forever angels’; his parents, Duane and Mary Dahl; and parents-in-law, Daniel and Phyllis Lessens. Blessed be the memory of Chris Dahl.
The Memorial Mass of Christian Burial for Christopher Dahl will be held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, March 17, 2021, in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Crookston with The Rev. Vincent Miller, presiding. Visitation with the family will be in the Cathedral on Tuesday from 5-7:00 p.m., with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service (with opportunity for sharing of memories), and will also be for one hour prior to the Mass Wednesday. Masks will be required and social distancing will continue to be observed. Both services will be live-streamed by logging on to www.crookstoncathedral.com a few minutes before the scheduled times and going to funerals/burials to click on the prompt to view. In lieu of flowers please consider a gift in Chris’ name to Prairie Public Television, 207 5th Street North, Fargo, ND 58102.
Online registration and messages of condolence may be given at www.stenshoelhouske.com.
