Obituary for Kim Waller
Kim Derek Waller, born in Ada, Minnesota on December 6, 1950 to parents Adeline (Kindseth)
and Wallace Waller passed away at age 68 on Sunday, November 24, 2019 in Onomea on the
island of Hawai’i. He grew up in Twin Valley and Barnesville, Minnesota, graduating from
Barnesville High School in 1969. Later, at age 25 he married Nancy Goodrich at Our Savior’s
Lutheran Church in Barnesville and together they have one daughter, Tara.
From age 14, Kim (or as Nancy calls him, “Waller”) worked by helping his family who owned and
operated the Our Own Hardware store in Barnesville, then moved on to a long career in the
construction trades as a plumber and foreman in the Local 34 Plumbers and Gasfitters, in the
F-M area and Minneapolis-St. Paul. After retiring from the construction industry in 2012, Kim
embarked on his passion project of world travel via a second career as a professional house
sitter. The new gig saw him to places like Auckland, New Zealand; Spain’s Costa del Sol; Costa
Rica; Hawai’i; Burgundy, France; and his favorite, Ireland. After being diagnosed with pancreatic
cancer in March of this year, Kim spent his remaining time visiting friends and family between
treatment protocols, as well as traveling twice to Hawai’i to be with Nancy and Tara. He passed
peacefully away at home there, at dawn on a warm sunny day with Nancy and Tara by his side.
Kim is remembered as a generous and sweet hearted husband, father and brother. People who
know will likely remember him as that plumber guy Kim, a true blue handyman, and always
ready to help, but he was also a passable fisherman, a green thumb, a savvy chef, a
commendable weekend-project builder, a life-long animal lover and observed dog whisperer, a
supportive, if-at-times-baffled dad, and most of all a genuinely good soul and first-rate guy.
Kim is survived by wife Nancy and daughter Tara Waller, brothers Waldo and Brian Waller,
numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, and a multitude of loving friends - which includes
many humans and several furry, feathered and four-legged pals. Preceded in death by siblings
Daria Askegaard and Mark Waller.
Remembrance and Celebration of Life event for Kim will be held at the American Legion #153,
101 2nd St SE, Barnesville MN, on Sunday December 15 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. The family
requests that in lieu of sending a memorial to please consider making a donation in Kim’s name
to the American Cancer Society. December 3 is Giving Tuesday, and a perfect occasion to
remember Kim with your gift. Web site: donate3.cancer.org
and Wallace Waller passed away at age 68 on Sunday, November 24, 2019 in Onomea on the
island of Hawai’i. He grew up in Twin Valley and Barnesville, Minnesota, graduating from
Barnesville High School in 1969. Later, at age 25 he married Nancy Goodrich at Our Savior’s
Lutheran Church in Barnesville and together they have one daughter, Tara.
From age 14, Kim (or as Nancy calls him, “Waller”) worked by helping his family who owned and
operated the Our Own Hardware store in Barnesville, then moved on to a long career in the
construction trades as a plumber and foreman in the Local 34 Plumbers and Gasfitters, in the
F-M area and Minneapolis-St. Paul. After retiring from the construction industry in 2012, Kim
embarked on his passion project of world travel via a second career as a professional house
sitter. The new gig saw him to places like Auckland, New Zealand; Spain’s Costa del Sol; Costa
Rica; Hawai’i; Burgundy, France; and his favorite, Ireland. After being diagnosed with pancreatic
cancer in March of this year, Kim spent his remaining time visiting friends and family between
treatment protocols, as well as traveling twice to Hawai’i to be with Nancy and Tara. He passed
peacefully away at home there, at dawn on a warm sunny day with Nancy and Tara by his side.
Kim is remembered as a generous and sweet hearted husband, father and brother. People who
know will likely remember him as that plumber guy Kim, a true blue handyman, and always
ready to help, but he was also a passable fisherman, a green thumb, a savvy chef, a
commendable weekend-project builder, a life-long animal lover and observed dog whisperer, a
supportive, if-at-times-baffled dad, and most of all a genuinely good soul and first-rate guy.
Kim is survived by wife Nancy and daughter Tara Waller, brothers Waldo and Brian Waller,
numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, and a multitude of loving friends - which includes
many humans and several furry, feathered and four-legged pals. Preceded in death by siblings
Daria Askegaard and Mark Waller.
Remembrance and Celebration of Life event for Kim will be held at the American Legion #153,
101 2nd St SE, Barnesville MN, on Sunday December 15 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm. The family
requests that in lieu of sending a memorial to please consider making a donation in Kim’s name
to the American Cancer Society. December 3 is Giving Tuesday, and a perfect occasion to
remember Kim with your gift. Web site: donate3.cancer.org