by Dennis Dalman
Harvey Pfannenstein, the owner of one of St. Joseph’s long-time landmarks, the St. Joseph Meat Market, retired in June after 59 years of working at the market.
The meat market was founded way back 120 years ago, in 1905, by Harvey’s grandfather, Al, and his brother, Mike.
Harvey’s daughter, Wendy Theisen, is now the new owner. She has been plant manager and an expert meat cutter for years.
In 1968, Harvey and brother Cy started working at that plant when it was owned by Dave Taufen. Two years later, in 1970, Harvey and Cy’s father, Al Jr., bought the company from Taufen. Twenty-seven years later, in 1997, Harvey and his wife, Carol, bought the meat market from his father. Throughout the years, every one of Al Jr.’s nine children worked there at one time or another.
The St. Joseph Meat Market has 32 employees.
Harvey and Carol will now have more time to kick back and relax at their lake home by Big Fish Lake. They also enjoy hobby farming on 208 acres of property by Fruit Farm Road near St. John’s University. Harvey also enjoys fishing and hunting. He and Carol have five children and 13 grandchildren.
Last year, Harvey Pfannenstein was named the Grand Marshall of the annual St. Joseph Lions Fourth of July Parade.
Background
The quality of the St. Joseph Meat Market’s products are well known far and wide. It has won so many local, state and national awards that its inside walls are covered, like wallpaper, with plaques. In fact, there are so many awards (literally hundreds) that some have to be stored in a big box in the basement.
In 2007, the market won a highly prestigious national award (“Best in Show”) for its maple-flavored breakfast links.
In 2016, Harvey Pfannenstein was honored with the annual “Outstanding Service Award” by the Minnesota Association of Meat Processors.
For more than 120 years, the Pfannensteins of St. Joseph, including Harvey, of course, worked as meat processors in the city.
It all started in 1905 when Harvey’s grandfather, Al Pfannenstein and Al’s brother Mike started a meat processing plant in a place along St. Joseph’s main street, in a place that had previously been a bar. Eventually, Al moved on to work for the homegrown meat operation on the campus of the College of St. Benedict. Brother Mike later sold the downtown plant to Mike Klein of St. Joseph, who owned it until 1948.
John Pflueger of Collegeville then took ownership of the processing plant at which time Harvey’s father, Al Jr., started working for Pflueger. Later, Dave Taufen took the reigns in 1968 for two years, with Al Jr. working with him. Dave is the brother of Dick Taufen, former St. Joseph Fire Chief whose son Jeff is now fire chief.
During an interview in 2024 with the Newsleaders, Harvey Pfannenstein was asked what his favorite meat is. He didn’t hesitate a second.
“A good grilled hamburger!” he said. “Sure, I like steak too, but there’s nothing better than a grilled hamburger with nothing on it but onions and cheese.”
contributed photo
Harvey Pfannenstein and his wife, Carol, stand for a photo taken in front of the meat case at the St. Joseph Meat Market. Above them are just some of the many awards the market and its employees have won throughout the years for excellence.
