Allan G. Host

Allan Host, 88, passed away on Thursday, September 10, 2026 after a short, brave fight with cancer, with his family at his side.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday, September 17, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mary of Mount Carmel Catholic Church in Long Prairie with Father Brady Keller officiating. Burial will take place in the parish cemetery.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 16 at Williams-Dingmann Funeral Home in Long Prairie and after 9:30 a.m. on Thursday at the church. Parish prayers will be held at 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.
Born in 1938 in Browerville, MN, to Romaine and Josephine (Maerz) Host, Allan grew up on the family farm north of Long Prairie. Working the land, caring for livestock and learning the rhythms of farm life, he developed two qualities that would define him throughout his life: his love for the land and his extraordinary work ethic.
Allan attended a one-room country school through the 8th grade and graduated from Long Prairie High School in 1956. After working for area farmers, he volunteered to serve his country in the United States Army. Following basic training at Fort Lee, VA, he was stationed in Ludwigsburg, Germany. He was honorably discharged in 1959 and returned home, beginning a 41-year career with Hart Press/Banta Corp. He retired as a head pressman in 2000, but retirement did little to slow him down. He spent another nine years working at Zinter’s Potato Farm and became somewhat of an institution around town—the man people called when something needed fixing, the local handyman and Mr. Fix It.
While printing was his career, fixing things was his passion. Allan had an uncanny ability to look at something broken, pick up a few tools and figure out how to make it work again. He shingled roofs, installed windows and doors, built custom cabinetry, welded, repaired machinery and was a self-taught mechanic, plumber, craftsman, carpenter and electrician. He could fix or build nearly anything—and if he didn’t know how, he would figure it out.
There was another side to Allan that he cherished deeply. In 1960, at a dance hall in Little Falls, MN he met a beautiful young woman, Mariann Bryniarski, who shared his love for fun, old-time music and dancing. On September 18, 1961, they were married in Randall, MN, dearly devoted to each other in a marriage that would span nearly 65 years.
Over their years together, they danced literally hundreds of miles across the dance floors throughout Central Minnesota and beyond. Their love of dancing became one of the most cherished threads of their life together—a source of joy, laughter, countless stories and memories shared with family and dear friends that spanned across six decades.
A farm boy at heart, Allan also found great joy in his garden and the outdoors. He carefully tended his garden, enjoyed watching things grow from the soil and spent considerable time trying to outsmart the squirrels. He loved sharing his harvest with friends and neighbors just as much as growing it. He loved cutting wood, fishing and looked forward to deer hunting season each fall and especially enjoyed telling the stories that came with every adventure.
Above all, Allan was a man of deep, abiding faith. He was a lifelong member of St. Mary’s of Mount Carmel Parish, where his faith was quietly lived. He generously gave his time, talents and treasure in countless ways, serving as an usher, on St. Mary’s School Board and parish building committee, as a member of the Knights of Columbus, and by regularly leading the Rosary and counting the weekly collection with Mariann for many years. His service reflected the kind of man he was – dependable, generous and always willing to help.
Allan will be remembered as a devoted husband, dad, grandpa, great-grandpa, friend and generous neighbor. He leaves behind a legacy best described not by what he accumulated, but by what he gave—his time, his talents, his faith, his friendship, his witty humor, his stories and his willingness to share. For a man who spent his life fixing things, perhaps his greatest work was the life he built. He will be fondly remembered.
Allan is survived by his beloved wife of nearly 65 years, Mariann; his four children, Dennis (Bev), Denise Kleinschmidt (Paul), Brad (Sara Larson), and Rod (Dayna Then); six grandchildren, Nathan (Molly) Host, Jeremy (Ashlyn) Host, Alison (Joseph) Prestia, Cody (Jenny) Kleinschmidt, Kali Kleinschmidt, and Blake Kleinschmidt; six great-granddaughters, Evelyn, Aubrey, Saylor, Nora, Lillian and Clara; great-grandson Hunter; his sister, Darlene Bauman; and many friends and relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents, Romaine and Josephine Host, as well as many relatives and friends.
Memorials are preferred to St. Mary’s Catholic School, Long Prairie, MN.