Visitation will be on Wednesday, July 5, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at New Hope Lutheran Church in Comfrey and will continue on Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at the church.

Service will be held at New Hope Lutheran Church on Thursday, July 6, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.

The clergy will be John Hopper. Interment will be at New Hope Faith Lutheran Cemetery in Comfrey, MN.

Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Springfield, MN. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Wendell Alphons Fredin was born on October 21, 1936, to Milton and Lena (Ibeling) Fredin in Mountain Lake, MN. He lived on the family farm south of Comfrey for most of his life. Wendell graduated from Comfrey Public School in 1954. He joined the National Guard in 1959 and was a member for eight years while continuing to farm with his father. Wendell purchased the family farm when his father retired. On March 17, 1970, Wendell married Martha Schmid Suess. They were blessed with three children, whom they raised on the family farm along with six young stepchildren. In 1990, Wendell started working as a sub-rural mail carrier for the St. James Post Office. He then worked at the Springfield Post Office starting in 1998 where he delivered a Springfield-Sanborn route for 12 years. With the help of his stepson Bill, Wendell was able to keep farming until the age of 84. Wendell was very active in many civic organizations. He served on the Comfrey School Board for 23 years, including many years as chairman. Wendell earned many awards for his dedication, including the National School Board Association’s Distinguished Service award for his work rebuilding the school after the 1998 tornado. He served on the Comfrey Development Board for 30 years, as Selma Township Treasurer for 30 years, and on the Faith (New Hope) cemetery board for more than 40 years. He also spent time serving as a board member of Faith Lutheran Church. Wendell belonged to the National, State, and Cottonwood Cattlemen’s Associations. In 1983, he received the Recruiter of the Year award from the National Cattlemen’s Association and in 1985 the Beefman of the Year at the Beef Royale. Wendell was proud to be from Comfrey. He loved supporting all Comfrey athletics and served as a representative to the Minnesota State High School League. He was on its priority list for state basketball tournaments and attended the state boys’ basketball tournament nearly every year since 1953, including on his honeymoon.

Wendell died on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, at his assisted living home The Maples in Springfield at the age of 86. With his death, a great historian was lost. His ability to remember people, events, and information was amazing.

Wendell is survived by his three children, Rick Fredin (special friend, Heather Schroeder), Kristy (Derk) Gratton, and Andy (Amy) Fredin; stepchildren Deb (Bill) Buffington, Tom (Kris) Suess, Peggy (Larry) Hoffman, Bill (Rhonda) Suess, Connie (Chuck) Lingbeek, Kathy (Charles) Thaemert; six grandchildren; 19 step-grandchildren; and 23 step-great grandchildren; brother Norman (Joyce) Fredin and sister-in-law Marian K. Fredin. He was preceded in death by Martha in July 2022, his parents, and brothers Kenneth (Joe) and James Fredin and sister-in-law Marian A. Fredin.

Memorials to charity of your choice are preferred.

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