Byron Allen Cigelske, 61, passed away peacefully June 13, 2024, surrounded by his loved ones.
The funeral service was held June 18 at Williams Dingmann Funeral Home in Avon.
Byron was a fisherman, hunter and craftsman. If he wasn’t out at the lake or rifling through the woods, you might’ve found him carving bowls from fallen tree stumps or metal-detecting at the beach. He loved his backyard, South Dakota, elk hunting in Colorado with his friends and Canadian fishing spots.
Following high school, Byron obtained his Chief A Engineer License at St. Cloud Technical College, soon afterward joining the Sartell Paper Mill team where he worked for 31 years. Before retiring, Byron transitioned to working as a boiler engineer at the College of St. Benedict where he worked to keep the students and nuns safe for nine years.
Byron is survived by his loving wife and best friend, Kathy (Pflueger); his doting mother, Elaine (Bloch); and his adored children, Amber, Natalie, David, Kelly and Dorothy. He leaves behind his wonderful grandchildren Emily, Joshua and Matthew. Lastly, he will be dearly missed by an endless list of great friends and extended family members.
Byron peacefully crossed the veil to joyously reunite with his father, Alvin; his uncle, Vernon; his great-uncle Lawrence; and many other loved ones.
Our family would like to thank hospice care for their support and gentle care with Byron. We are grateful for the support and prayers from Senior Pastor Denny Curran with River of Life and Father Julius of Albany Seven Dolors.
