Former Twiehoff Gardens Owner Funeral is Thursday

Steve Twiehoff, age 69, former Twiehoff Gardens and Nursery of Faribault owner passed away in Arizona last week with family at his bedside. He phoned me shortly after he was diagnosed with cancer four years ago.

Steve was attempting to sell his business around the time of his diagnosis. The sale was completed in 2020 to Matt Thomas who has kept up the tradition of growing farm vegetables for people to enjoy in their homes.

I considered Steve a good friend. He was truly a mentor in teaching me how to accept bad news with grace and move forward. He never said to me, "Why me?"

Steve was a quiet guy but still enjoyed visiting with his many customers over the years.

Steve Twiehoff's FFA Jacket from Faribault High School. Photo by Gordy Kosfeld

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I attended visitation at Boldt Funeral Home in Faribault at the end of what I'm sure was a long day for Steve's friends and family on Wednesday, July 6, 2022.

His brother Randy and his wife Karen were there. Sister Ann who lives in Mesa, Arizona. Nieces Suzanne and Stephanie of Gilbert, Arizona. Some cousins, aunts and uncles were also there.

A number of those folks were from Kenyon.

The brief time I visited with them I got the sense they felt about Steve the same way I did.

Admiration for his kind soul which was nurtured by his Christian upbringing.

Steve was able to go places he wanted to see on this planet before meeting his Heavenly Father. Alaska and Hawaii were tops on the list so he completed those excursions.

There were scores and scores of pictures at his visitation.

Twiehoff Picture in Garden. Photo by Gordy Kosfeld

I received permission to post some of them here because I know a number of KDHL listeners enjoyed indulging in Twiehoff Gardens vegetables, plants and Watkins products over the years.

Steve Twiehoff Cross Urn was built by a cousin. Photo by Gordy Kosfeld

I used a special balm for my knees that Watkins makes and Steve carried those products so that's where I got them.

I bought some pretty tasty meat seasonings there also.

Steve's obituary says he enjoyed spending time in Arizona playing cards, swimming, visiting with relatives.

He also enjoyed spending time at the family cabin on Mille Lacs Lake in northern Minnesota.

Picture of Steve Twiehoff with Pumpkins. Believed to be from mid-70's.

When Steve called I knew right away that upon his passing I would try to write a poem in his honor.

He told me over the years he enjoyed listening to Faribault Falcons games in particular and listened to the news and market information on KDHL.

In particular he enjoyed the poems I wrote in honor of Jerry Kes, owner of Bashers and Jerry Groskreutz's dad.

Steve and I talked about having lunch with Randy when he hopefully returned to Faribault in late summer but alas it will not happen.

I am sad for those of us who enjoyed his laid back company but happy he is no longer suffering the pain he had to endure the last few weeks of this existence.

It's hard to sum up a life in a few lines of prose but hopefully this poem gives you an idea of the kind of man I admired in Steve.

I recorded the poem on July 6, 2022 in the KDHL News Room.

You can listen to it below.