Emil James Marr, 70
Emil James Marr, age 70, of New Hampton, died at his home on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2020.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, at Holy Family Parish, New Hampton with the Rev. Brian Dellaert celebrating the Mass.
Interment will follow in the New Hampton City Cemetery with military rites by the New Hampton American Legion Post.
Friends may greet the family one hour prior to the Mass at the church on Friday, Dec. 11.
If you are unable to attend Mass, you are welcome to join the family live on the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home Facebook page.
Funeral arrangements are with Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in New Hampton.
Emil was born Aug. 14, 1950, in Riceville, to Leslie and Maureece (McDaniel) Marr.
He served in the U.S. Army from Oct. 7, 1969, to April 16, 1971, and was stationed in Vietnam. He was hit on Dec, 3, 1969, and received several decorations of honor, including the Vietnam Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal w/2 Bronze Service Stars, Combat Infantryman Badge, National Defense Service Medal, Expert Badge w/Rifle Bar (M-16), 2d Class Gunner Badge w/Machine Gun Bar (M-60), Sharpshooter Badge w/Rifle Bar (M-14), and the Purple Heart. After many months at Fitzsimons General Hospital in Denver, Colorado, he was released.
He worked for the New Hampton Cemetery during the summers from 2008-2012 and retired in 2008 after 36 years at TriMark in New Hampton.
On Feb. 14, 1970, Emil was united in marriage to Rita Jean Fesenmeyer at Immaculate Conception Church in Riceville. Together they had two children, Scotty Lynn and Stacey Marie.
Emil was a member of St. Joseph’s Church and a member of the Fae Stine American Legion Post 38 in New Hampton.
Emil had a love for good old fashion country music. Throughout his married life, he loved to go with Rita and their friends to live country music dances, following the likes of The Country Blue Boys, The White Sidewalls, and Buck Hollow Band, and would cut a rug with whoever was willing to partake in some of his fancy footwork.
Being a homegrown farm boy, he was enraptured with tractors. Shortly after Emil and Rita’s move to New Hampton, he was introduced to garden tractor pulling by a few local gentlemen. Emil was hook, line, and sinker for this and avidly pursued the hobby. It became a family event to take Rita, Scott, and Stacey to the weekend venues. The tractor pulling inventory grew to a 4-cylinder hot rod tractor and two garden tractors, one of which was for Scott when he became of age to compete.
He also learned the game of golf when he outgrew his passion for garden tractor pulling, motorcycles, and snowmobiles. His son Scott often joked with him that he had reached the over the hill 40 mark when he sold off all his toys to buy a golf cart.
He never claimed to be a professional golfer, but to be with friends, having fun socializing and poking at his cohorts for some good felt laughter was what he really enjoyed about the game.
He loved his John Deere tractors and talked in his younger years that he wanted enough garden tractors, each one with its own attachment, so he could get to working on the lawn, garden, or snowfall without any hassle. This goal was accomplished through the years, along with the addition of a 2-cyl “Johnny Popper” to his collection. He had always loved the sound of those old 2-cyl engines.
He was also known for his colorful words of wisdom and stories. Emil never met a stranger and definitely left an impression for miles around. He loved to socialize.
One of his goals was to make people smile and have a good laugh along the way. In his conversations with people, the love of his family and country shined through his words and expressions.
Over the years, he found a love grilling and trying new recipes to share with his friends. It wasn’t uncommon to pass by the Marr household and see the tripod burning a wood fire, knowing something was going to be put on the grate. Be it chicken, steak, pork chops, or some other endeavor, if you were to stop in you would be treated to something tasty for sure.
Emil is survived by his wife of 50 years, Rita Marr of New Hampton; son, Scotty Marr (Shari) of New Hampton, and their children, Natalie and Landon; daughter, Stacey Marr (Joe Frahm) of Rochester, Minnesota and her children, Payton, Marren and Teagan Dougherty; brother, Jerry Marr (Susan) of Spring Valley, Minnesota; and sisters-in-law, Susan Marr of Riceville, Audrey (Warren) Green of Walnut Creek, California, Mary Betts of Osage, Shirley Fesenmeyer of Greene, and Linda Bird of Osage.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Jim Marr; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Lynn and Leona Fesenmeyer; and brothers-in-law, Charles Fesenmeyer, Neil Betts, Jim Fesenmeyer and Larry Bird.
