Fandel, Cletus Joseph 1819 - 2008

FANDEL, ESSER, TESSUM

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 5/23/2013 at 00:00:40

Cletus Joseph Fandel, 89, of 620 Briarstone #30, Mason City, Iowa passed
away peacefully at his home on April 20, 2008.

Memorial services were held Saturday, April 26, at Holy Family Catholic
Church, Mason City, with the Rev. Jon M. Seda officiating. Military honors will
be provided by the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association.

Cletus was born on March 19, 1919 at Rodman, Iowa the son of John Frederick
Fandel and Dorothy (Esser) Fandel. Cletus received his education at Holy Family
School in Mason City. Cletus was a member of the American Legion, was a Scout
Master, was an executive vice president of the Newman Booster Club at its
inception, and he had been active in the Democratic party as precinct committee
chairman. He was an instrumental force in organizing the ‘North End’ picnic
get-togethers, as well as an instrumental force in organizing the Holy Family
Alumni breakfast group. He was a avid sports fan, and took pride in driving the
Holy Family players to their sports games before buses came on the scene.

Cletus joined the U.S. Army and was a military policeman, which he was very
proud of.

Cletus enjoyed going to the Surf Ballroom at Clear Lake, joining his many
friends for dancing to the Big Bands. The thing Cletus liked most was
socializing. He was known for his robust zest of life, innate ability to speak
his mind, infectious sense of humor and devilious charm.

Cletus and Laurel loved entertaining and hosting parties for their many
friends, and their family at their homes in Plymouth and Mason City, Iowa. They
enjoyed their retirement, traveling to Corpus Christi, Texas for the winter
months, and reuniting with their Iowa friends. They enjoyed their card party
groups in Plymouth, and enjoyed walking the mall, making and meeting old and new
friends, their “special” Friday night group gatherings for laughs and dinner,
and Sunday mornings after Mass, with coffee and donuts (he always had two!)

Cletus married Laurel Jean Tessum at the Church of Incarnation in
Minneapolis, Minn. on June 25, 1949. They were happily blessed with three sons,
C.J. and wife, Bunny, of Grizzly Flats, Calif., David and wife, Jackie, of Mason
City, and Brad and wife, Sherrie, of Garner, Iowa. They were then blessed by
three daughters, Cindy Fandel of Mason City, Kelly and husband, Dave Kratz, of
Clear Lake and Kimberly Garner of Clear Lake. Cletus loved his grandchildren
and they thoroughly enjoyed hearing the many hilarious stories of Grandpa back
in the day. Grandchildren are, Kristina Miramon, Nicole and husband, Eric
Umbarger, Shae and husband, J.J. Thompson, Joe and Ashley Fandel, Misty, Cody
and Hailey Fandel, Hollie and Summer Hoffarth, Kelly and husband, Neal
Neuberger, and Jon Ehresmann, Joshua and wife, Kelly Kratz, Andrea and husband,
Mike Frantz, Amber and husband, Ryan Allen, and Calan Kratz, Dylan Garner and
Melissa Peterson Garner. Great grandchildren are Lindzie, Sydney, Grace and
Jake Umbarger, Payton Rae Hoffarth, Caden and Samuel Kratz, Gabriel and Cole
Frantz and Cabot and Jett Neuberger.

Cletus had many other family members on the Fandel/Tessum side that were
deeply embedded in his heart. Family meant everything to him and what memories
of an 89-year lifetime he has been blessed by!

Cletus’ bride of 59 years, Laurel, made his life completely and beautifully
fulfilled. In their 59 years together they had shared a lifetime of deep love,
joyous laughter, and much happiness. Their treasured memories of so many, many
friends, old and new and of family made Cletus’s 89 years lovingly complete. He
celebrated life to its fullest. As you celebrate Clete’s life, know he is
celebrating you!!

Hogan Bremer Moore Colonial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.