Otto Vendell

Otto Vendell, age 89, of Alexandria, died Monday, October 26, 2015. A funeral service will be held at 11 AM Friday, October 30, 2015 at First Lutheran Church in Alexandria. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 PM Thursday at the Anderson Funeral Home and also one hour prior to the service at church. OBITUARY Otto Vendell was born December 10, 1925 in Douglas County, the son of Frank and Rose (Donner) Vendel. He was baptized at First Lutheran Church on December 17, 1949. Otto went to school in Alexandria until he was 17, then he enlisted in the US Navy in 1943 serving at the naval base in Farragut, Idaho. Otto became ill with Rheumatic fever and spent 3 months in the hospital in Idaho. He then rode the “Rheumatic fever train” with other patients to Oceanside, CA where he spent 7 more months in the hospital rehabilitating. Otto then went to Hawaii on the Landing Craft Infantry where he volunteered for signal man school. After WWII, Otto was assigned to a ship taking Japanese soldiers from Korea back to Japan. He returned to Alexandria after being discharged in 1946. Otto went into the construction business working for Drussell Construction of Alexandria, the Noyes Construction Co. of Fergus Falls, and later formed a partnership with Milton Rice of Nelson. Later, he went into the hardwood floor refinishing business. Otto’s wood refinishing handwork can be seen in many area homes and at the Douglas County Historical Society, the school house at the Douglas County fairgrounds, the Historical Society in Evansville and the stairs and balcony in First Lutheran Church. His retirement dream was to work with Habitat for Humanity, but a stroke left him unable to do so. Otto married the love of his life Luella Olson on August 1, 1954. Otto built their home on Quincy Street where they still resided. Otto loved watching sports especially golf, Minnesota Twins, and the Minnesota Vikings. He loved doing jigsaw puzzles, Sudoku, and Cryptoquip’s. Otto was a quiet, loving man who loved God and his family. He was a lifelong member at First Lutheran Church where he served as secretary, treasurer, an usher and a greeter. Otto died on Monday, October 26, 2015 at the Douglas County Hospital in Alexandria at the age of 89. He is survived by his wife, Luella (Olson) of 61 years; daughters, Cheryl Johnson of Hatton, ND, Diane (John) Fearnyhough of Hatton, ND; son, Mark (Cindie) Vendell of Marana, AZ; grandchildren, Stacey (John) Jacobson, Jeremy Paulson, Patrick Johnson, Lindsey (Jon) Bommersbach, Dominic Vendell, Kyle (Angela) Paulson, and Casey Paulson; great-grandchildren, Sydney, Chance and Zane Jacobson, Rylee Paulson and Ava Bommersbach; sisters, Mickey Sievert and Alice Wieman; sisters-in-law, Mayme Olson, Bonnie Vendel, and brother-in-law, Vernon Olson; many nieces and nephews and friends. Otto was preceded in death by his parents, father and mother-in-law, infant twin sons, James and Jerome; brother, Bob; several brothers-in-law and one sister-in-law. A funeral service was held on Friday, October 30, 2015 at First Lutheran Church in Alexandria with Reverend Greg Billberg officiating. Interment was at Evergreen Cemetery in Alexandria. Military Honors were provided by the Alexandria American Legion Post 87, VFW Post 936, and VVA Chapter 235 and the Minnesota National Honor Guard.

Otto Vendell

December 10, 1925 - October 26, 2015