Kevin D. O’Laughlin

Kevin O’Laughlin, 75, of Rushford, Minn., passed away on Sunday, April 6, 2025, with his family by his side. 

Kevin was born December 22, 1949, in Winona, Minn. Growing up in Winona’s Gilmore Valley, Kevin was the third in line of six children born to Jim and Delores (Douglas) O’Laughlin. He contracted polio as a toddler and was sent to Sister Kenny Institute in Minneapolis, where he stayed for over a year to undergo treatment. The death of his loving mother when he was 12 would forever be imprinted on his heart. When Kevin was 14, his father married Theora Gilliam, and he gained three step-siblings.

Kevin graduated from Cotter High School in 1968. It was at Cotter when he first saw his future wife, Cindy Palubicki. He said he winked at her in the hallways, but she never responded. (Later, she told him she could barely see, because she refused to wear her glasses at school.) After graduating, he returned to Cotter for a school dance and was finally able to catch her eye. Their first date was Friday, June 13, 1969, when Cindy was 16 and Kevin was 19. They were united in marriage on January 22, 1972 and spent the next 53 years building a family and loving each other. 

Kevin was passionate about plumbing. His career began at O’Laughlin Plumbing, a business started by his Grandfather Frank. His career also included state plumbing inspector, boiler engineer, plumbing system designer, and more. However, more than anything, Kevin enjoyed his work as a plumbing educator. He taught the plumbing code, backflow prevention, cross connection control, and many other topics to full classrooms or small groups. His students knew when they were entering “Code Zone.” (Even if you weren’t in his classroom, he may have taught you the history of plumbing or how plumbing saved humanity.) Kevin was an educator for more than 35 years and continued to teach until his passing. 

Giving his heart to Jesus in 1973, Kevin was a man of strong faith and forever a student of the Bible. He led others to Christ through his example and his enthusiasm to share scripture.

Kevin will be remembered for his St. Patrick’s Day outfits, his vehicle packing skills, being prepared for just about anything, his ideas that led to over-engineering projects at times, his persistence to get things done and making sure it was done right. Most importantly, he will be remembered as a wonderful husband, dad, grandpa and friend.  

Kevin was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law Dorothy and Anthony Palubicki, brother-in-law John Goss and sister-in-law Linda O’Laughlin.

Kevin is survived by his wife of 53 years, Cindy; son Jeremy (Anne) O’Laughlin, daughter Jennifer (Jon) Hengel, and son Jacob (Marge) O’Laughlin; grandchildren Autumn and Amber O’Laughlin and Grady and Matthew Hengel. He is also survived by his O’Laughlin siblings: sister Patti Goss and brothers Michael, Dennis (Patty), Kim (Darcy), and Sean (Tammy); and Gilliam step-siblings: brothers Bob (Kathy) and Tom (Pam) and sister Teddi.  

A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 18, 2025, at Root River Community Church in Rushford. Visitation will be 9:30-11 a.m. prior to the service. 

“Well done, good and faithful servant … Enter into the joy of your lord.” (Matthew 25:21)

For those that cannot attend the celebration of life in person, there will be a live stream on the Root River Community Church YouTube channel.