Skip to main content Skip to office menu Skip to footer
Capital IconMinnesota Legislature
Skip Navigation Links
  • LRL Home
    • >
  • Legislators Past & Present
    • >
  • Member Record
    • Legislators Past & Present Home

    Kriesel, John

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    House 2011-2012 (District 57A)

    Party when first elected:  Republican

    Counties Served:  Dakota, Washington

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 10/7/1981
    Birth Place: ,
    Birth County:
    Birth Country:
    Date of Death:
    Gender: Male
    Religion:
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Cottage Grove
    Occupation (when first elected): Private Marketing and Advertising Contractor to the Minnesota Army National Guard/Contributor, Power Trip Morning Radio Show, KFAN-AM 1130

    EDUCATION

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    Military: Minnesota Army National Guard (Kosovo, 2004; Iraq, Camp Fallujah; Wounded in Iraq, Lost Both Legs; Awarded Combat Infantryman Badge, Purple Heart Medal, and Bronze Star Medal; Staff Sergeant); 10/07/1998 to 2008
    U.S. Legislative Staff/Council/Commission: United States Senate (Intern for United States Senator Norm Coleman); 2007 to 2007
    County Board/Commissioner: Anoka County, Minnesota (Veteran Services); 05/01/2012 to ? [Appointed]

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Katie; Remarried Kayla (after 2018)
    Children: Chloe (daughter)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    He lost both legs in military combat in Iraq in 2006 as he chronicled in his memoir, Still Standing.

    Most recent term photo
    Click to view
    Total Days Served: 735

    SESSIONS SERVED

    87th Legislative Session (2011-2012)

      Session Details
    Body: House
    District: 57A
    Elected: 11/2/2010
    Residence: Cottage Grove
    Term of Office: 1/3/2011 to 1/6/2013
    Counties Represented: Dakota, Washington
    Occupation: Private Marketing and Advertising Contractor to the Minnesota Army National Guard/Contributor, Power Trip Morning Radio Show, KFAN-AM 1130
    Party: Republican
    Bills Authored: Chief Author     Author
    Special Session Bills Authored:  2011 1st Sp.S. - Chief Author    2011 1st Sp.S. - Author
    Committees:
    • Capital Investment Minutes
    • Judiciary Policy and Finance Minutes
    • Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Minutes
    • State Government Finance: Veterans Services Division Minutes
    term photo
    Click to view

    OTHER INFORMATION

    Articles & Books About

    Articles & Books By

    • Kriesel, John, and Jim Kosmo. Still Standing: The Story of SSG John Kriesel. Edina, MN: Beaver's Pond Press, 2010.
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

    News Sources

    The Library maintains newspaper clippings on individual legislators during their terms. Clippings are available from 1973 to the present in a variety of formats: 1973-1999, microfiche available at the Library; 2000-2009, scanned in yearly compilations and digitally available on the legislative network; 2009-present, archived in a searchable database maintained by the Library and available on the legislative network.

    Legislators Past & Present Home