Ted Preisler could easily have been a roofer in his life's work, following in the steps of his father. But a job as a police officer in Forest Lake in 1956 changed all that.

For 35 years, Preisler worked as a cop, first in Forest Lake and for 31 years as a deputy with the Washington County Sheriff's Office where he performed a wide range of duties from street cop to investigator.

Preisler, who loved his work in law enforcement, died of a heart attack on Thursday, Dec. 28, 2006 at his home in Chisago City. He was 74.

"My dad was a good cop, a fair cop," said his daughter, Wendy McKinnon. "If you were doing something wrong, he obeyed the law. But he remembered he was once a teenager."

McKinnon said her father was a cop who balanced good judgement with fairness and common sense. Although he was not big in stature, he was a "gentle giant," his daughter said.

"His heart was huge," she added.

McKinnon said her father thoroughly enjoyed his retirement years and the time he could spend with family and friends. He had survived two open heart surgeries and an aneurism of the heart in recent years.

Preisler and his wife, Carol, had moved from their Forest Lake home to the Parmly Residence just last July.

Lindstrom native

Ted R. Preisler was born on Nov. 22, 1932 in Lindstrom. He graduated from Chi-High and enlisted in the Army at age 17.

He spent three years in the service with duty during the Korean War. He left the Army as a sergeant after serving in Korea and later Japan.

On Nov. 24, 1952 he married Carol Bloom of Forest Lake. He worked as a roofer for several years before he landed the job as a police officer in Forest Lake.

He worked in Forest Lake from 1956 until 1960 when he joined the sheriff's department. He remained with the county until his retirement in September of 1991.

In his retirement years he worked part-time at the Maroon and Gold Ice Arena in Forest Lake.

Funeral details

A funeral service for Ted R. Preisler was Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2007 at Faith Lutheran Church, Forest Lake. Interment was at Scandinavian Cemetery, Forest Lake.

He is survived by his wife, Carol; daughters Wendy (Kevin) McKinnon and Jody; eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one brother, William Preisler; one sister, Helen Johnson; sisters-in-law Sue (Fran) Schlaeger, Sharon (Ronald) Peterson; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by one son, Scott Preisler; his parents, Joseph and Louise Preisler; three brothers and one sister; and his mother-and-father-in-law, Vera and Ellis Bloom.

The family has requested that memorials in Ted Preisler's name be directed to the donor's choice.

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