April 26, 2021 at 6:12 p.m.
Hal L. Havisto
Hal Lawrence Havisto was born Nov. 24, 1956 in Virginia, Minn., to Roy and Lila Havisto. He spent his grade school years in Virginia and then the family moved to the Minneapolis area when he was 10 years old. He graduated from Armstrong High School in 1975. He attended Hennepin Community college and later University of Dubuque, Iowa. He graduated from Crown College, St. Bonifacius, Minn., in 1985 with a degree in history and theological studies.
Hal married Paula Nelson on July 14, 1984 in Canby, Minn. They set up household in Chaska, Minn., and welcomed three children to their family. After graduation Hal worked a variety of jobs for a few years in the janitorial business and also as an interim church youth leader at Crystal Evangelical Free Church. He was active in Christian ministry and he and Paula went on two mission trips together with Athletes in Action to Venezuela, Belize, Mexico, Trinidad, Tobago, and Guatemala in 1987 and 1989.
After moving to Minocqua in 1993 Hal started his own janitorial service and continued it until early retirement in 2015. He serviced many businesses in the area and met many friends over 22 years. He was active in the community with the Lakeland Youth Basketball league and coached teams for many years. He loved basketball and continued to play as long as he could. He was active with Christian mission work at Faith Evangelical Free Church and went on trips to Peru to share the gospel of Christ. He was a youth leader in the AWANA program and junior high boy’s youth group leader.
He is well known for his love of the Vikings and was able to good naturedly dodge the slings and arrows of Packer fans, all of whom became his friends. Hal was noticed wherever he went due to his 6’9” height and became known as the gentle giant by all.
He was diagnosed with early onset Lewy Body dementia in 2015 and valiantly battled it until the time God called him home.
Hal is survived by his wife, Paula, three children, Nielsen (Kim) Havisto of Appleton, Thea (Josh) Wilkins of Onalaska, and Taylor (Adam) Howard of Middleton, his brother Mike (Jane) Havisto of Rogers, Minn., sister-in-law Myrna Magnusson of Grand Forks, N.D.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Lila Havisto, siblings Charlene Havisto and Dennis Magnusson.
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