- Born on: December 13, 1936
- Departed on: May 1, 2023
- Resided in: Owatonna, MN
Lyonel M. Watkins
Pastor Lyonel M. Watkins Jr., age 86, of Owatonna, Minnesota, passed peacefully into eternity Monday morning, May 1, 2023, at Traditions of Owatonna. Pastor Watkins was born December 13, 1936, in Clawson, Michigan, to Lyonel and Helen Watkins. Due to difficult circumstances in their family at the time and it being in the middle of the Great Depression, the doctor suggested she abort the baby. Pastor later wrote an article about that titled, “If My Mother Had Believed in…”, and it was published by Regular Baptist Press.
Pastor Watkins came to know Christ in his late high school years and the Lord directed him into full-time pastoral ministry. He graduated from Detroit Bible Institute (3-year bible degree) in 1960, from Pillsbury Baptist Bible College (BS in Science) in 1971 and Northland Baptist Bible College (Master of Ministry) in 1992.
While attending Detroit Bible Institute, he met his wife of 62 years, Margaret (Peggy) Lutz who was from the Rockford, Illinois, area. There he began his ministry at First Baptist of Rockford, Illinois, as a youth pastor. He pastored several churches throughout the Midwest over 44 years of full-time ministry and continued ministry in his retirement through interim opportunities and filling pulpits for another twelve or so years.
He leaves behind his loving wife and ministry partner Peggy of Owatonna, Minnesota; their two sons Kelly Watkins of Owatonna, Minnesota, and Kerry (Lori) Watkins of Cary, Illinois; eight grandchildren: Joshua Watkins, Jorden (Jessie) Watkins, Amy (Eric) Michel, Amanda (Daryn) McKevitt, Andrew Watkins, Jared Watkins, Megan Watkins, and Melissa Watkins. Seven great-grandchildren: Riley Kreeger, Kirra Kraay, Sevin DeLeo, Caleb Watkins, Brooklyn Watkins, Lexi Michel, and Willow Watkins. Also, his sister Sue (Don) Stearley, and brother-in-law, Roger Lutz.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Lyonel and Helen Watkins, sister Lisa Duckworth, brother Mark Watkins, father and mother-in-law Leslie and Bessie Lutz, and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Friends and family would say they enjoyed his ukulele playing and his jokes. He and Peggy enjoyed antiquing and filling their houses they remodeled with antiques. He was an avid reader and had quite a collection of Reader’s Digests, as well as spent many hours solving crossword puzzles.
He will be greatly missed by all who knew him, but we are thankful for a gracious God who took him peacefully to Heaven and we have the peace of knowing we will see him again someday.
A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, May 6, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., at Grace Baptist Church of Owatonna, Minnesota. Visitation will be from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. If unable to attend you can watch online at
