Obituary of Wendell Kriesel

Wendell Lee Kriesel, better known as "Wendy", age 76, of Isanti, died on July 31, 2011, after a short and courageous battle with health issues resulting from a ruptured aneurysm. Wendy was born on May 26, 1935, in Spencer Brook Township, to Roy and Anna (Peterson) Kriesel. He graduated from Cambridge High School in1953. On September 24, 1955, he married Violet Meyer at Zion Lutheran Church in rural Princeton, MN. Since 1959, they have made their home in Oxlip, MN. He was employed by Massey Ferguson in Hopkins and Cambridge, MN. He was then employed as a boilermaker out of Local 647 for forty years until his retirement in 1997. Wendy and Violet were blessed with three children. Wendy and Violet attended Zion Lutheran in Crown, Joy Lutheran in Cambridge and Long Lake Lutheran churches. He was an active member of Bradford Sportsmen's Club, Isanti County Sportsmen's Club and the Isanti County Chapter of the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association. Wendy was a volunteer firearms safety instructor for 40 years. He served on the Spencer Brook Township board and served as an Election Judge until his illness in May. He enjoyed the outdoors and loved to hunt, fish, camp, trap shoot, tinker in the garage and spent countless hours doing the things he loved with his family and friends. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend. He was loving, caring, helpful and was always willing to generously give his time and talents to many various organizations and individuals. Wendy is survived by wife, Violet; daughters, Lynn (Michael) Erickson of Stanchfield, MN, Paula (Bernard) Hierlmaier of Isanti and son, Kevin (Joleen) Kriesel of Isanti; 9 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren; siblings Dale (Marlys) Kriesel of Longville, MN, Sharon (Paul) Puck of McAllen, TX and Rose (John) Hass of Cambridge, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Anna, sister and brother-in-law, Debora and Lloyd Walkner and nephew Nathan Walkner.