Willard Leo Portner, age 84 of Klossner died peacefully on Monday, February 8, 2016 at the Good Samaritan Society in Winthrop.

Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 am on Monday, February 15, 2016 at St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Lafayette. Father Matthew Wiering will celebrate the Mass, and burial will follow in the New Ulm Catholic Cemetery in New Ulm.

Visitation will be from 2-6 pm on Sunday, February 14th at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home, SOUTH CHAPEL in New Ulm, and continue one hour prior to the Mass at the church in Lafayette on Monday.
To leave an online condolence for his family, or to sign the guestbook, go to www.mvfh.org

Willard is survived by his loving wife Phyllis Portner of Klossner; daughter, Sharon Perko of Denver, Colorado; son, Leon (Cheryl) Portner of Lafayette; daughter, Debra (Bradley) Remus of Castle Rock, Colorado; grandchildren, Adam Perko, Jamey Portner, Kelly (Eric) Nelson, Brooke (Gene) Goetting, Dustin Portner, Jeremiah (Seda) Remus and Miranda (Nate) Becker; great-grandchildren, Reese Nelson, David and Daniel Remus, Casen and Colten Becker, and Brynlee Portner; sisters, Barbara Clyne of New Ulm, Karen (Jerry) Winters of North Mankato; sister-in-law, Margaret Portner of New Ulm; and brother, Richard (Joann) Portner of Lafayette.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Jerome "Butch" Portner; daughter-in-law, Jody Portner; brothers, Gary and Eugene Portner; and brothers-in-law, Tom Morse, and Jim Clyne.

Willard Leo Portner was born July 24, 1931 in Home Township to Arthur and Clara (Seidl) Portner. He was united in marriage to Phyllis Gitter on August 20, 1952 in St. George. The couple was blessed with four children whom together they raised in the New Ulm area. Willard started his working career farming. After farming he worked for the farmer's coop of Lafayette, but later began driving truck over the road. He drove for nearly 40 years as a dedicated truck driver for J&R Schugel Trucking of New Ulm. Willard truly enjoyed the simple things in life. He enjoyed playing cards with family and friends, traveling the country driving truck, dancing with his wife, and listening to his favorite old time music. A real passion in Willard's life was his love for his John Deere tractors and simply socializing with friends and neighbors. What gave him the most enjoyment was spending time with his family, especially his grandkids, and great-grandkids. He was a member of St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church in Lafayette. Willard will be dearly missed by all of those who ever had the pleasure of knowing him.