Joseph Lee Eiden was born on April 27, 1944 in Fairmont, MN, the son of Leo and Helen (Peterson) Eiden. He passed away at age 62 from lung cancer at his home in St. James, MN on Saturday, May 27. Joe attended country school in Jay Twp. until the fourth grade and then went to school in Sherburn, MN. He was very active in 4-H and often went to the State Fair with his gardening projects. Joe graduated from Sherburn High School in 1962. It was there that he began his love of basketball and eventually became a longtime season ticket holder with the MN Timberwolves. Joe began working in the ditching business with his Uncle Robert Peterson while working his way through college. He graduated from Mankato State in 1968 with a degree in math and physics. He loved being outdoors so after graduation he continued in the drainage business establishing Eiden Farm Drainage in St. James in 1968. Joe married Kathleen Mathwig on Sept. 4, 1964 at St. JohnÂ's Lutheran Church in Dunnell, MN. They lived for a short time in Sherburn, MN before coming to St. James in 1965, he to commute to college and she to begin her first teaching job. Joe established another drainage business near Trail, MN in northwest MN in 1982 working mostly in the wild rice patties. He also operated a grain farm growing mostly wheat. The family returned to St. James in 1997. Joe was a member of Augustana Lutheran Church where he had served on the church council, property and education committees. He was a collector of sorts but especially enjoyed his baseball card and record collection. His favorite activity was spending time with his grandson, JaÂ'Mason. One of JoeÂ's favorite sayings was, Â"I never went to work a day in my life. I just went out and played with my toys.Â"
Joe is survived by his wife, Kathy of St. James, MN, daughters, Susan Moffett of Shakopee, MN; Yonnie (Jason) Eiden-Giel of Hastings, MN; one son, Will of Mankato, MN; grandson, JaÂ'Mason Moffett of Shakopee; and one brother, Peter (Karen) Eiden of Omaha, NE. Other survivors include Uncles and Aunts, Robert and Irene Peterson of Trimont, Leroy and Marge Eiden of Fairmont, Dorothy Krohn of Sherburn, and Stella Bedford of Sherburn. Sisters and brother-in-laws, Nancy and Darvin Bishop, Trimont, MN; Barry and Mary Bliesmer of North Mankato, MN; Roger and Mary Ellen Mathwig of Truman, MN and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.