Thursday, July 9, 2026 | 11 AM
Virgil (Al) Aloysius Kluesner age 96 of Edina, MN passed away on June 27, 2026, at TowerLight Senior Living, in Saint Louis Park, MN.
Virgil was the third of four children born to Ray and Alice (Oberbroeckling) Kluesner in Millville Township, Iowa on December 29, 1929. Al graduated high school from Loras Academy, Dubuque, Iowa in June, 1947. He was drafted into the Army on May 11, 1951, served in active duty and the reserves and was honorably discharged as a First Lt., Corp of Engineers, on November 10, 1960. Al attended Iowa State University and graduated in May, 1957 with a degree in Business and Marketing. It was at ISU where he met and fell in love with Mary Jane Bonoff. Al and Mary were united in marriage on August 18, 1956 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Osage, Iowa. Al started his business career at Honeywell where he worked in sales and marketing for 19 years. Later he held senior marketing positions for Harris Corporation and CPT Corporation. Al was known for his “can do” attitude and enthusiasm for whatever was in front of him. He enjoyed travel, attending sporting events, the Minnesota State Fair and any activity his children and grandchildren were involved in. The deaths of their children, Amy (1985) and Michael (1997) inspired Al and Mary, along with five other suicide survivors (people who have experienced the loss of a loved one to suicide), to launch the nonprofit SAVE, Suicide Awareness Voices of Education, in 1989. For many years Al and Mary provided their time and energy to SAVE by speaking to community groups, fundraising, marketing and strategic direction. SAVE continues to make an impact in advancing its mission.
Al is preceded in death by his wife Mary, children Michael and Amy; siblings Joseph, Grace and Norma; and his parents Ray and Alice.
He is survived by his sons Kevin (Amy) and Philip (Ginny); daughter-in-law Karen King; grandchildren Paul (Missy), Jack (Kathleen), Grace (Tommy) Bertucci, Tess (Blake) Gregg and Bridget; great-grandchildren Rose, Grace, John, Emma, Caleb, Jack-Riley, Braylon, Miles, Vinny, and Mia; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will happen at 10 AM.
