Herbert Peter Windschitl

May 21, 1930 – October 14, 2012 Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 19, 2012 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Cold Spring, MN for Herbert “Herb” Windschitl, age 82, who died peacefully Sunday at the Assumption Home in Cold Spring due to complications of a stroke. Burial will be in the St. Boniface Parish Cemetery. Relatives and friends may call from 4:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Thursday, October 19th at the Wenner Funeral Home in Cold Spring. Parish Prayers will be at 7:00 p.m. followed by a rosary with the Knights of Columbus. Visitation will continue from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m., Friday morning at the funeral home. Herbert Peter Windschitl was born on a 120 acre farm in Comfrey, MN on May 21, 1930 to Florian and Anna (Moldan) Windschitl. He graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Sleepy Eye, after which he attended St. John’s University. His studies at St. John’s were interrupted when he joined the Army Corps of Engineers in August 1951. He spent 13 months in Pusan, Korea during the Korean War. He was discharged August 1953. He then returned to St. John’s University where he graduated in 1956 with a social science and history degree. Five days later he married the love of his life, Bernetta (Bernie) Meidl, at St. Raphael’s church in Springfield, MN. Herb taught high school in Jordan, MN, Souix Valley, MN, Gibbon, MN, New Ulm, MN, and Cold Spring, MN. He directed 15 class plays, coached various sports, and was a boy scout leader. Herb was active in the local teacher organization, and served as president and secretary-treasurer at various times. Herb’s Catholic faith was very important to him. In 1961 he joined the Oblates of St. Benedict at St. John’s under Abbott Baldwin. He has been a member of the Knights of Columbus since 1958. He believed strongly in sharing his faith with young people, and spent 23 years along with his wife Bernie teaching CCD in Gibbon and Cold Spring. He and Bernie started the Faith Formation program in Cold Spring when the public high school (Rocori) opened. He was the very first lay lector at St. Boniface Parish in Cold Spring, a calling that lasted 45 years. Most of all, Herb lived his faith daily. He was a very caring and patient person, who was always praying for other people. His guidance and steadfast presence will be sorely missed by all. After full time teaching for many years, Herb began selling World Book and Childcraft. He felt the real challenge of education began in the home. During his career he sold over 2,000 sets of World Book, won many accolades, and as a District Manager he hired over 200 representatives. In 1974 he started a side business with Success Motivation Institute where he sold goal-setting materials and motivational talks on cassette tapes to individuals, homes, and schools. In keeping with his passion for education, Herb was a substitute teacher up until age 79. In 2003 Herb realized a long time dream of publishing a book when he wrote “1001 Affirmations: Open a Life, Come Alive”. He was very proud of this book, and often said “If there’s only one thing in there that helps someone, it has done some good”. Herb believed in ‘recycle, reduce, and reuse’ long before it was fashionable. He loved gadgets and loved to tinker with things. He could fix just about anything, a skill that came in handy when raising six children. As he taught each of his children to drive and they subsequently bought their first cars, Herb’s mechanical abilities were a lifesaver. Photography was a life-long hobby, and Herb never left the house without his camera. He was a member of the American Legion since 1955, Catholic United Financial since 1995, and the VFW. He enjoyed traveling, fishing, camping (as evidenced by many slide trays of family trips around the country), visiting relatives, and genealogy research. Herb was a devoted husband to Bernie for 56 years, and often credited her for the good things in his life. They were blessed with 8 children. Herb is survived by his wife Bernie; children: Michael (Rosemary) of Cold Spring, Francis (Julie) of Northfield, MN, Brian (Kim) of Buffalo, NY, Jane (Jonathan) of Anchorage, AK, Patrick (Candy) of Manteca, CA, Gary (Julie), of Afton, MN; 19 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren; brother & in-laws: Peter (Lois) Windschitl, Marlene Windschitl and Mel Cook. Herb was preceded in death by his daughter Mary and son Paul; parents & in-laws: Florian and Anna Windschitl, Albert and Leona Meidl; brothers: Leonard (Delores) Windschitl, Leo Windschitl, Gilbert Windschitl; sister: Marie Cook. Memorials preferred to the St. Boniface Education Endowment Fund, 501 Main Street, Cold Spring, MN 56320.

Herbert Peter Windschitl

May 21, 1930 - October 19, 2012