Gordon "Gordie" Dykhoff, Sr.

Gordon “Gordie” Dykhoff, 89, of Bluffton, passed away peacefully at Perham Living, surrounded by the love of his family.

Gordie was born and raised in Bluffton, Minnesota, the son of Henry and Gertrude (Geiser) Dykhoff. He often shared that he was the smartest student in his class, something made a little easier by the fact that he was the only student in his class at Bluffton country school. He began his working years in construction before finding his place delivering lumber and later working in sales at Northwest Building Center and Lampert Lumber Co. He also bartended at Don’s Liquor in Bluffton, where his easygoing nature fit right in.

On August 28, 1961, Gordie married Vanette Perna at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Their marriage was a true partnership. When Vanette later lost her vision, Gordie devoted himself to her care with quiet dedication and love.

Gordie was happiest outdoors. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, especially spear fishing, gardening, and simply spending time in the fresh air. He also enjoyed feeding deer throughout the winter and hauling corn to his pond for the geese and ducks every fall. He would set up a trail camera and get pictures developed to show family and friends. His garden was a source of pride, and he freely shared its bounty with family, friends, and neighbors. He was a gentle, polite, and grateful man, and he naturally became a steady presence for his siblings. Gordie was known for his homemade bread, and even after significant hearing loss later in life, he became remarkably skilled at reading lips.

After retirement, Gordie would go to local cafes for breakfast, followed by DJ’s Powerhouse in Bluffton to shake dice for coffee. He had a knack for calling out what dice he would roll, often being right.

He enjoyed the song “White Sport Coat and a Pink Carnation,” and when asked how it’s going, he would say, “One foot in the grave, and the other on a banana peel.” Gordie also had a lighthearted, mischievous side—stories like the time he quietly slipped a live bird into a woman’s purse were retold with a grin for years.

A devout Catholic, Gordie never missed Mass. He was a member of the MN Darkhouse & Angling Association, the NRA, Ducks Unlimited, and the MN Deer Hunters Association.

Those who will forever cherish Gordie’s memory include his children: Tammy (Jeff) Weiher; Brenda (Dean) Perala; Mary (John) Zvorak; Missy (Clarence) Mast; Kim Yoder; Denise (Kelly) Hudson; and Gordy Jr. (Dinee) Dykhoff; grandchildren: Kimberly (Kris) Knight, Tanner, (Becca), Brooklyn, Lincoln, Owen, Dayton, Kingsley, Bethany (Eli) Winslow, Haven, Nicole (Devlin) Hessig, Elias, Ruth, Victor, James, Niilo, Verena, Kristen (Cody) Jyrkas, Andrew (Kylee) Perala, Vidah, Bennett; Mandy, Brayden, Jessica, Declan, Jacob (Kenzie), Ellie, Zachary, and Matthew Zvorak; Michael (Shaye) Mast, Avah, Dawson, Hadley; Jeremy (Brynne), Braylee, and Myla Mast; Megan (Elijah) Schmitz, Willow; Kaylee, Acarie, and Christopher Yoder; April, Jacob, and Erika Hudson; Sarah (Meaghan) Pooler; Kaitlyn and Sutton Dykhoff; and Rowland, Dixie, and Hazel Dykhoff; Siblings: Don (Irene) Dykhoff, Patricia “Patsy” (Jerry) Anderson, Henry Jr. “Butch” (Katie) Dykhoff and Brad Dykhoff; Brothers and sisters-in-law: Bob Morton, Judy Dykhoff, Bev Dykhoff, and Mark Holweg; and his longtime roommate Jerry Hoyhtya.

Gordie was preceded in death by his parents; wife Vanette; parents-in-law Toivo and Hulda Perna; brothers Joseph, Ken (Bertha), and Richard; sisters Darlene “Dot” Morton and Joan Holweg; brothers-in-law: Vernon, Dennis, Alvin, Morris, Marvin and Jim Perna; and sisters-in-law: Vivian Neuvonen, Vida Hoeke, and Verla Snethen.

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