The funeral service will be live-streamed at: https://www.ourlivingwater.org/vincentwatje.html

Vincent "Vince" F. Watje, age 76, of Willmar, passed away Saturday, February 14, at his home surrounded by his loving family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, February 26, at the Church of St. Mary in Willmar. Interment will be at St. John's Lutheran Cemetery near Pennock with military honors provided by the Willmar American Legion Post. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. with a parish prayer service at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 25, at the Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar. Visitation will also continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday. In lieu of flowers, memorials to honor Vince's life may be directed to the American Cancer Society Hope Lodge in Rochester, Minnesota. www.petersonbrothers.com

Vince was born on August 19, 1949, in Lake Park, Iowa, the second of four sons of Edward and Prudence Watje. He grew up on their farm outside Round Lake, Minnesota (near the Iowa border) and graduated from Round Lake High School in 1967. Following high school, he attended and obtained a degree from Jackson Vo-Tech. He then enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard and served for 6 years.

Vince was united in Matrimony with Suzanne (Hinton) on November 24th, 1972, in Worthington, MN. They moved to Willmar about 6 months later when an opportunity to build a new territory out of the Welders Supply store in Willmar became available.

He was employed at Welders Supply (now known as Matheson) for over 55 years as a Driver Salesman and Territory Manager. During his career Vince built a territory from Willmar to Wahpeton, ND and then as far as beyond Fargo, ND which led to the opening of two more company stores. He also won too many sales and performance awards to list. The main theme we have heard from all his coworkers and customers is that Vince didn’t actually have coworkers and customers, he just had lots of good friends. Some of those friends were with Dad for his entire 55 years in the territory.

In 1972, Vince and Suzanne bought their first purebred Charolais breeding stock. They were very passionate about the cattle and eventually named the business JDJ Charolais after their three sons Jed, Dan, and Jay. They continue to operate the herd today as Watje Livestock in partnership with son Jay. Vince was a member of the American International Charolais Association and the American Angus Association. He was also a past President of the Minnesota Charolais Association.

Vince was a member of the Church of St. Mary and the American Legion.

The family would like to extend a heartfelt Thank You to his medical team at Mayo Clinic in Rochester. Particularly Doctors Leventakos, Lee, Peikert, Stokken, Bechtum, and Clain along with their entire teams. They also became very good friends of Vince.

He is survived by his loving wife, Suzanne; three sons, Jed Watje of Milsap, TX., Daniel Watje of Chaska, MN, and Jay Watje of Spicer, MN; three grandchildren, Belle Watje of Granbury, TX, Claire Watje and Sloane Watje of Chaska, MN. Also surviving is one brother, Galen (and Teresa) Watje of Bloomington, MN, and a sister-in-law, Beverly Watje of Brewster, MN; besides brothers and sisters in-law, relatives, and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and two brothers, Burton and Val, and two brothers-in-law, Stanley Gunning and Mark Hinton.

Blessed be the memory of Vincent Frank Watje.