Joseph Kenneth Dolan

Joseph Kenneth Dolan, 51, of rural Rushford died an untimely death on December 3, 2005, at his home. He was born on October 15, 1954, in Minneapolis, Minn. to Walter and Margery (Leuer) Dolan. He was raised on the family farm in Hamel, Minn. Joe graduated from Wayzata Senior High School in 1973. He joined the U.S. Army, was stationed in Germany, and became a Military Police Officer. He was a die-hard Minnesota Viking fan and great lover of animals, especially dogs and horses. Joe was a loving husband and father. He was proud of his Irish heritage and he was a loyal patriot. In his early career he worked as a private investigator, retail security director for Tom Thumb Food Stores, and executive security investigator for Dayton Hudson / Target Corp. all in the Twin Cities area. Later Joe's career changed to expert saw filer for Hedstrom's Saw Mill in Grand Marais, Minn. He left his beloved home in Grand Marais and moved to Rushford, Minn. where he became a well ? known sawmill consultant throughout the upper Midwest. His dear friends and family knew him as a dog and horse trainer and he shared his talents with many others. He loved his animals and cherished his hobby farm life. He is survived by the love of his life, his wife, Theresa Luther; daughter, Regina of Rushford; mother, Margery Dolan of Plymouth, Minn.; brothers: Warren (Marlene) Dolan of Rogers, Minn. and Donald (Sharon) Dolan of White Bear Lake, Minn.; sister, Mary (Paul) Peterson of Parkers Prairie, Minn. and his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Walter Dolan of Hamel and Plymouth, Minn.; paternal grandparents: William and Lydia Dolan and maternal grandparents: Mathias and Henrietta Leuer.