Kevin Gatzlaff

Kevin Michael Gatzlaff, age 48, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, while on a cruise ship in the Bahamas, vacationing with his daughter Daisy.

Kevin was born September 30, 1975 to Ron and Patrice (Patton) Gatzlaff in South Saint Paul, Minnesota. He graduated from Rochester Lourdes High School in 1994. Kevin earned his bachelor’s degree in 1998, at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in Finance, Management, and Entrepreneurship. After graduation and until 2004, Kevin worked at Altura Hardware and Propane, his family’s business. In 2004, he moved to Tallahassee, FL, to attend Florida State University. In 2009, he received his Doctoral degree in Risk Management and Insurance. He married Rachael Alaniz in 2008, and moved to Muncie, Indiana, to take a position teaching Insurance and Risk Management at Ball State University. While there, he received many teaching and research awards and served as the Associate Editor of the Journal of Risk Education. Kevin was also an active member of the Southern Risk Management Association, serving as president in 2018. 

Kevin was known for his talent as a musician, and performed his whole life. While in high school he and his friends performed in the Lourdes gymnasium after school, in college he performed at The Cabin, and during his time in Altura he joined Hamill Road, a band who performed regionally in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Throughout his life, he was an active volunteer. While in Muncie, he co-founded Aria’s Army, an independent non-profit that raised funds for the Fanconi Anemia Foundation. He often performed live on Facebook to fundraise for this cause.

Kevin is survived by: his family Daisy, Cosette and their mother Rachael; his father Ron Gatzlaff; his sisters Kate Johnston (Joel) and their children Noah and Connor and Kristin Servais (Bob) and their children Jack and Owen; his grandmother Betty Gatzlaff; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. He also leaves behind many friends and colleagues in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida, Indiana and across the country. 

He was preceded in death by his daughter Aria; his mother Patrice Gatzlaff; and his grandparents Kermit Gatzlaff, William Patton, and Margaret Patton. 

A funeral service will be held at 11am on Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Our Saviors Moravian Church (37 Chapel Dr NW, Altura, MN) with visitation beginning at 10am. A celebration of life will be held that same day starting at 5pm at Pooter’s (14 S Main St, Altura, MN).

A Celebration of Kevin’s Life will also be held on Saturday, August 3rd, 2024, at Vera Mae’s Bistro (209 S. Walnut St, Muncie, IN) beginning at 5pm.

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In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the Fanconi Anemia Foundation. https://fanconi.org/ Donations in Kevin’s name can be mailed to 360 East 10th Ave. Eugene, Oregon 97401.