John Francis Fandel

1939 - 2017

John Francis Fandel, 77

Sauk Rapids

July 10, 1939 - March 1, 2017

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, March 6, 2017 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sauk Rapids for John Francis Aloysius Fandel, who died Wednesday at the age of 77 surrounded by his loving family. Rev. Ralph Zimmerman will officiate and burial will be in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Sunday at Williams Dingmann Family Funeral Home in Sauk Rapids and one hour prior to the services Monday at the church. 4th Degree Knights of Columbus Father Pierz Assembly will stand honor guard from 5-8 p.m. and parish prayers will be at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home in Sauk Rapids.

John was born July 10, 1939 in St. Cloud to Leonard and Eleanor (Zabinski) Fandel. He graduated from Cathedral High School in 1957, and SCSU with a degree of management. He met his love Barbara Tracy while working at Saint Cloud Times.  John worked in the mailing room while going to SCSU and Barb in the business office.  They married on September 5, 1964 at Sacred Heart Church in Sauk Rapids, MN. He worked for thirteen years as a manager of F. W. Woolworth stores in various cities in Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. He was blessed to return to the St Cloud area in 1977 with the start of the closing of F.W. Woolworth, and soon after moved to Atwater, MN where he began work with the MN Department of Revenue. In 1990, the position moved to the St Cloud office and he again returned to the area residing in his Sauk Rapids home.   

 During his life John enjoyed watching the Minnesota Twins, MN college games, fishing and gardening. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Sauk Rapids, Knights of Columbus 4th Degree, and Sacred Heart Men's Club. John was an active member in all the parishes he attended, including being a CCD instructor, Eucharistic Minister, and being a part of many parish committees. He was an avid supporter of the Marriage Encounter and MCCL.  He became a friend to everyone he got to know, always wanting to make everyone feel welcomed. He was a hardworking man with a strong faith and dedicated to his family.

Survivors left to honor and cherish his memory include his wife of 52 years Barbara; children, Mary Jo Fandel, Michelle and Grant Wendt, and Marcia and Kenneth Klimmek all of St. Cloud; brother, Robert and Judy Fandel of Luxemburg; sister-in-law, Virginia "Ginny" Fandel of Little Falls; sister-in-law, Patricia Tracy of Mora; nieces and nephews and many other relatives and friends. 

John was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Kenneth Fandel; niece, Pamela Fandel; sister-in-law, Kathleen A. Kenning; brother-in-law, Peter C. Tracy.

 Obituary, guestbook and video tribute available online: www.williamsdingmann.com