Steven Tusa

Steven Elroy Tusa, 83, passed away Saturday, May 21, 2016 at his home in Baxter. Funeral Services will be held at First Lutheran Church in Brainerd on Thursday, May 26 at 3:00 PM. Family and friends are invited to gather starting at 1:00 PM at the church. Private Interment will be held in Jenkins, MN.

Steve was born in Chamberlain, SD, on August 9, 1932, the son of James and Hazel (Klindt) Tusa. He attended schools in Harrold and Pierre, SD, graduating from Pierre High School in 1951. He attended college in Aberdeen and served in the US Army in occupied Germany. In 1957, he moved to St. Paul where he was employed at Ellerbe Engineering. In 1959, he began work at Northern Pacific Railroad (later Burlington Northern) in the real estate department and worked there in various capacities and locations until his retirement in 1989.

Steve was active in Little League in St. Paul; was instrumental in setting up the program at Parkway and acted as coach and official for many years. He moved to Brainerd Lakes Area after his retirement to make "the cabin" his year-round home. He was a volunteer at First Lutheran Church in Brainerd, Lakes Area Senior Activity Center, RSVP, and Pequot Lakes Area Historical Society.

Steve is survived by his loving wife, Kathy; daughter, Julie (Chuck) Leonard; sons, Steve, Jr. (Sue), Joe, and Tom; eleven grandchildren; and fourteen great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, John; and sisters, Luella Canode and Nita Robbins.