Shawn Huisman

Sauk Rapids, MN Shawn Huisman age 52, of Sauk Rapids, MN, formerly of Sioux Center, IA, died unexpectedly Monday, October 16, 2023, at his home in Sauk Rapids, MN. A memorial service will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, October 20, 2023, at Memorial Funeral Home in Sioux Center, IA with Rev. Katherine Russell, officiating. Military honors will follow at the Veterans Memorial in Sioux Center. Visitation will be Friday, October 20, 2023, with his family present, one hour prior to the memorial service, at the Memorial Funeral Home of Sioux Center. Shawn Mark Huisman was born December 26, 1970, at Sioux Center, IA the son of David and Rhonda (Ghea) Huisman. Shawn grew up at Sioux Center where he attended and graduated from Sioux Center High School in 1989. Shawn was united in marriage to Rhonda (Aldrich) on December 30, 1989, at Hope Lutheran Church at Sioux Center. He proudly graduated from St. Cloud State University in 2019. For many years, Shawn worked in law enforcement and public safety, as dispatcher, jailer, and patrol officer, and most recently with the Stearns County Sheriff’s Department for the last 5 years. Shawn served in the Marine Corps from 1990-1997 and as a veteran of the Gulf War, and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, and numerous other medals and honors in his time in the Marine Corps. Shawn was involved in Boy Scouts, VFW, YMCA, and the Victory for Veterans memorial ride in Indiana. He was an Eagle Scout and was on the dean’s list at St. Cloud State University. Shawn was a quietly funny man who could always spark a laugh in those around him. He deeply loved his wife of 33 years through all the tribulations of life and oriented his career around the service of his country, community, and family. Shawn's knack for the mechanical and skill with tools meant he was able to fix any problem or tackle any project, whether building a treehouse or cobbling a motorcycle back together and would often help his wife with her crazy decorating and remodeling ideas. From an early age, Shawn had an adoration for space and sci-fi that eventually inspired the same passions in his own children through almost-daily airings of Star Trek or the occasional midnight-screening of the newest space epic, especially Firefly, Stargate, and Flash Gordon. He and Rhonda loved to go on short trips to Florida and chill on the beach at St. Pete's, Clearwater, and Sanibel, and they had planned to spend their retirement there someday. He loved his dogs, Hera and Luna, and he enjoyed riding his motorcycle on the weekends, and finding good places to have BBQ. He missed his mom and dad dearly and always wished they could see how the kids had grown and his beautiful home in Minnesota. His desire was that his children were happy, do good things, work hard, have loving relationships and partners, accept everyone for who they are, and travel the world. Any of the kids' friends that showed up at the house were welcomed to stay and eat, but he might also put them to work. He truly believed in providing for your family, and going the extra mile when people need help. Shawn's legacy of commitment, dedication, curiosity, and humor is dear to his friends and family and will be carried forward with them. Shawn is survived by his wife Rhonda, children Kyle (partner, Robert Fink), Ian, Tanner, and Ruby (partner, Chris Behrens), and his sister, Shannon Wichers. He will be greatly missed by his sisters-in-law, Angie Aldrich and Mollie Van Otterloo, mother-in-law Charmaine Steuerwald, and his many special nieces, nephews, and aunts, uncles, and cousins. Shawn is preceded in death by his parents, David and Rhonda, father-in-law Thomas (Tom) Aldrich, paternal grandparents Tina and Web Huisman, and maternal grandparents Lewis and Ellen Rhode. Memorials in his honor may be given to the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA) Minnesota Public Radio or St Cloud State Advancement and Alumni Engagement