Roger Leroy Munson

Roger Munson, 88, a lifelong resident of Winona, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, leaving behind a lifetime of stories, laughter, and friendships that stretched across Winona.

Roger grew up on West Fifth Street and discovered his love for hockey as a young boy. He starred for the Lakeside Vulchers and Winhawk hockey teams in the '50s. Later he laced up his skates playing center for the Winona Hornets and Bolling Blues. After his playing days ended he coached the Goodview Midgets, sharing his love of the game with the next generation.

As an avid outdoorsman, Roger spent decades fishing the Mississippi backwaters and hunting the rolling farmland of southeast Minnesota. For years he kept a boathouse at the Minnesota City Boat Harbor, where he could be found enjoying a beer and swapping stories with his many friends.

After serving in the U.S. Army, Roger returned to Winona where he married Irene Kangel in 1961 and raised five daughters. Later, he married Barb Foster, and the two ran The Cove in Minnesota City and eventually settled in Goodview. They enjoyed socializing at the Elks Lodge where Roger could often be found bantering with other members or prepping meals in the kitchen. Roger spent countless hours tinkering in his basement shop and enjoyed many years of gardening, planting flowers, cooking, traveling with friends, and taking boat rides on the river.

He was preceded in death by parents, Custer and Myrtle (Peterson); his spouse Barb, daughter Renee, a granddaughter, brother Hjalmer (Bud), sisters, Violet Noeske, Laura Engel, Dorothy Christie, Lorraine Gilbertson, Muriel Block, JoAnn Jorde, Lois Erickson, and Anna Hauser; and sister-in-law Joan Madland.

Roger is survived by daughters, DeeDee (Jim) Seurer of Watertown, SD; Dawn (Mike Pifer) of Dallas, TX; Kari (Bob Santoro) of Cherry Hill, NJ; and Wendy (Matt) Markham of Lino Lakes, MN; 16 grandchildren and 14 great‑grandchildren; brothers-in-law, Ted Block, Danny Hauser, Wally Madland, sister-in-law Marion Drussell and many beloved nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of His Life will be held Saturday, September 26th from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Elks Lodge, 4540 Service Drive, Winona, MN. In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name may be directed to Winona Area Youth Hockey Association (WYHA), P.O. Box 563, Winona, MN 55987.

Hoff Celebration of Life Center is assisting the family.