Andrew Mital

Andrew Mital, age 96, passed away on September 24, 2021 at Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital in Saint Louis Park after a stroke. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Ruth (née Michalik); his brothers Daniel, George, and John; and sisters Emma , Ann, Dorothy, Margaret, Mary, and Elizabeth.

He was born September 16, 1925 in Minneapolis, Minnesota of Slovak immigrant parents George and Anna Mital (nee Duda) from whom he learned to speak and read Slovak. He was a graduate of Vocational High School in Minneapolis.

Like his father who served in the US Army in the Spanish-American War in the Philippines, Andrew served in the US military, but in his case as a US Marine during World War II in the Pacific Theater from 1943-46. He saw action there as a gunner on US Marine Douglas Dive bombers. Guadalcanal, the Philippines, Okinawa, and northern China were several of the war's areas of operations where he was assigned.

After the war, he met his dearest wife Ruth, who was also of Slovak heritage. They were married on May 17, 1947 in Minneapolis by a Lutheran pastor. Subsequently, they had two children, son Daniel and daughter Constance.

The honorably discharged veteran initially worked in Dayton's shoe department, Kunz Oil Company's warehouse, Minnesota Paints production sector before becoming a labor union representative for District 50 of the United Mine workers of America (UMWA). With the UMWA over a five year period, Andrew was involved in grievance, arbitration, and contract negotiations. This experience led him to employment with General Mills as Labor Relations Representative for this food manufacturer. Andrew's General Mills career spanned some 30 years and required at times long, grueling, late night negotiations with the company's many labor unions. This required occasional travel out of General Mills Minnesota headquarters to their manufacturing plants across the country such as in Chicago, Illinois, Ohio, the East Coast and West Coast. He retired from General Mills in 1991.

He is survived by his sister Ruth Betzler, his son Daniel, his daughter Constance Mital-Herold; grandchildren Brian Herold, Darren Mital, Ashley Protivinsky, Brent Mital, and great granddaughter Elena Protivinsky.

Personality wise, Andrew was a hardworking, industrious man - at times demanding, blunt, and opinionated. He loved being in the company of his family and friends. Andrew relied strongly on the unconditional support of his dearest wife Ruth. He enjoyed participating in conversations and making his views enthusiastically known. He would talk with fondness of his General Mills exploits and sometimes of his wartime experiences. He was an avid Lutheran churchgoer and he liked to sing (loudly), especially Christian hymns or songs from the 40's and 50's, sometimes accompanied by his brother-in-law Mel a capella or on accordion. Andrew traveled widely: England, Spain, Peru, Venezuela, Panama, on Caribbean island cruises, New Zealand, Burma, Singapore, Thailand, and numerous times to Costa Rica hosted there by Miguel Soto, the cousin of his daughter-in-law Yadira Mital. As a native Minnesotan, Andrew went fishing a lot. Previously, he played golf and as a youth was a baseball catcher. In his final months, he was overjoyed to being able to spend time with his new months' old great granddaughter Elena Protivinsky.

An ardent individual, Andrew Mital will be missed, but not forgotten.

The family thanks Living Christ Lutheran Church and Summerwood of Chanhassen Presbyterian Homes for all that they did for "Pops" as he was known to us.

Memorials preferred to Living Christ Lutheran Church, Chanhassen.

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