Cordell "Corky" Kittelson

Cordell Owen “Corky” Kittelson, 72, St. Paul, Minnesota, peacefully past away Friday, January 19, 2018 at the Good Samaritan Home in Inver Grove Heights, MN after a 6 year long courageous battle with cancer.  He was the son of Oscar and Viola Kittelson of Norwegian Grove Township.  He lived his life to the fullest during those years. Corky wrote his own story several years ago for a family publication. “I was born November 19, 1945 (in Pelican Rapids, MN). The news of the day was the announcement that Cordell Hull had won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in the League of Nations. (Our parents chose this name from that).  I graduated from Pelican Rapids High School in 1963. (At his graduation Corky received an honorary Mathematics Award) and soon after left for Albany, Oregon where one of our neighbors had moved. I worked a variety of jobs in Oregon, and with friends moved again in 1965 to Mountain View, California.  With San Francisco nearby we visited the last of the “beat generation”, watched the Hell’s Angels and enjoyed the ocean.  At the end of 1965 I was drafted into the U.S. Army. After basic training I went to Signal School in Fort Hood, Texas, received a security clearance, and was sent to Camp Vayama in Sattahip, Thailand. (Corky received the highest scholarship award when he finished Signal School).  After my release from Army life I started school at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. I ended up working for the Chemistry, Physics and Space Science, building instrumentation and supporting the various groups in a wide variety of companies, the last being Teradyne which is a Boston-based company.  I am currently retired, and spend the winters in the Twin Cities and summers (at my place by Lake Olaf near) our family farm. During my working life I was involved in a number of non-profit organizations. These include the Coffee House Extempore’ a full-time venue for folk music, where I was on the board of directors for six years. Other organizations were the Guild of Metalsmiths, the state affiliate of the Artist Blacksmiths’ Association of North America, and Tapestry of Folk Dance Center.  I’ve enjoyed a very active life, made many friends both in Minnesota and others that I’ve met through my interests in metal working, dance and traditional music.” In addition to Corky’s own story his love to travel must be included. He went to Europe, East Asia, Canada, and the Caribbean and 49 of the United States.  His goal was to be able to travel to all 50, however he was not able to get to Alaska. He may have been other places we missed.  He especially enjoyed North Carolina at the Campbell Folk School and areas of Appalachia. He also attended the famous “Woodstock concert” in New York in 1969. His last trip in the spring of 2017 was to Chaco Canyon in New Mexico and the surrounding state area.  Although a difficult trip, he was determined to go. Corky’s passions in life were traditional music and dance, metalsmithing and Lake Olaf. Also he was a voracious reader.   One of Corky’s friends told the family that Corky had one of the best libraries he had ever seen on the subjects that interested Corky. He was a son, brother, uncle and mentor to his nephews and nieces and a friend to many. Preceding him in death are his parents Oscar and Viola Kittelson and Wallace Tweeton (brother-in-law). His family members include siblings; Carla (Wallace) Tweeton (Fergus Falls, MN), Howard (Cheryl) Kittelson, (Pelican Rapids, MN) , Kathryn (Greg) Gilstrap (West Fargo, ND).  Nieces and nephews include Dawna (Peter) Hochstein, Corey (Crystal) Grosz, Dan (Teresa) Tweeton, Dean (Kim) Kittelson, Jana (Robert) Stromberg.  He has 13 grand nieces and nephews and 7 great grand nieces and nephews. He will be missed and always loved by many. When Corky knew his story would soon end he said “I am satisfied with my life.” May the mystery of life meet him with the grace, friendship, knowledge and the big smile he has always shared with others during his lifetime.  Visitation:  Friday, January 26, 2018 from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., at North Immanuel Lutheran Church. Funeral: 1:00 p.m., Friday, January 26, 2018 at North Immanuel Lutheran Church, 12713 County Hwy 30, Pelican Rapids, MN. Clergy:  Pastor Dawna Hochstein Burial:  West North Immanuel Cemetery Please keep the Kittelson family in your thoughts and prayers. Cordell "Corky"'s Memorial Folder