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Fritze “Fred” Carl Gustav Wurdell, 12/8/2000


Fritze “Fred” Carl Gustav Wurdell, age 87 of
Howard Lake and Hutchinson, died Friday, Dec. 8, 2000, at Ridgeview Medical
Center, Waconia.
Funeral services were Tuesday, Dec. 12, 10 a.m., at Peace
Lutheran Church, Hutchinson, with the Rev. Jonathan Rathjen officiating.
The organist was Paul Otte. Rev. Rathjen sang “In The Hour of Trial.”
Congregational hymns were “When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder,”
“How Great Thou Art,” and “Onward Christian Soliders.”
Casket bearers were Jeff Borchardt, John Borchardt, Julie
Jaffe, Mark Karels, Scott Karels, Greg Wurdell, Grant Wurdell, and Gus Wurdell.
Fred was born Jan. 10, 1913, in Cedar Mills Township, Meeker
County, Minn., the son of Frank and Wilhelmena (Luthens) Wurdell. He was
baptized Feb. 10, 1913, at his parent’s home.
He began school in Cedar Mills and then, continued elementary
school in Hutchinson, when his family moved and operated the Hutchinson
Produce.
Fred attended Friedens Church, Hutchinson, and was confirmed
in the first class of the new Peace Lutheran Church March 28, 1926.
A star athlete in high school, Fred was proud of being
captain of the basketball team. He also excelled in football and track.

After graduating from Hutchinson High School in 1931, Fred
attended business school in Minneapolis during the Depression. He later
attended and graduated from Minneapolis Barber School.
Fred worked as a barber in Elgin, Minn., for a short time,
where he met and married Evlyn Martin in 1935.
He then barbered briefly at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester,
and at a shop in Hutchinson, before owning and operating a bar in St. Paul.
In 1939, Fred moved to the New Germany area and built and
operated the Hollywood Station for 42 years.
“Freddie and Evy” were known for their good hot
dogs. It wasn’t unusual to wait briefly for service while Fred listened
with his “good ear” to the radio and watched a game on the TV
at the same time, so he could get the latest scores.
Fred and Evlyn made the news when they were kidnapped by
a bank robber and forced to drive to southern Iowa at gunpoint in 1966.

After moving back to Hutchinson, Fred and Evlyn were active
in the senior dining program and sang with the Senior Serenaders. Fred and
Evlyn celebrated 56 years of marriage, before Evlyn passed away in 1992.
Fred enjoyed fishing, bowling, playing cards, cribbage,
talking about his high school sports career, and in later years, relaxing
at his cabin at Brown’s Lake. He was one of the original residents of Prince
of Peace Retirement Living, until he moved to Cedar Crest Board and Lodging
in 1996, and then, in September 1999, to Howard Lake Good Samaritan Center.
Fred is survived by his daughters: Dianne Borchardt and
husband, Walter, of Minnetonka; Kathleen Walsh and husband, Wiliam, of Maple
Grove; and Gail Wurdell of St. Louis Park; daughter-in-law, Shirley Wurdell
of Hutchinson; grandchildren: Jeff Borchardt, John Borchardt, Julie Jaffe
and husband, Scott; Mark Karels, Scott Karels and wife, Joni; Greg Wurdell
and wife, Jill; Grant Wurdell and wife, Jenn; and Gus Wurdell; and great-grandchildren,
Jacob and Samantha Jaffe, Dani Karels, and Ben and Gabe Wurdell.
He is further survived by a sister, Doris Daggett of Hutchinson;
sisters-in-law, Lucy Martin and Virginia Martin of Rochester; and many nieces
and nephews.
Fred is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Wilhelmina
Wurdell; wife, Evlyn; and son Gary Wurdell in April, 2000.
The Dobratz-Hantge Funeral Chapel, Hutchinson, handled
the arrangements.

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