Robert Brendsel

Robert Brendsel, age 72, passed away unexpectedly January 27, 2012, of an aneurysm. Bob was born in Mayville, North Dakota, May 11, 1939, one of three children of Ione & "Inky" Brendsel. He attended public schools in Mayville, graduating salutatorian of his class at Mayville High School in 1957. He was very involved in music, playing in the band, singing in the choir & musicals, and competing in many music contests. Bob attended Mayville State University for a year, completing his degree in business at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. He worked for the JCPenney Company for many years, helping to open stores in Atlanta, Columbus, Kansas City, and St.Louis. After retiring in 1989, Bob lived in St. Louis until he moved to Minneapolis in 1997. Bob enjoyed living in Minneapolis, because of his many friends, his mother Ione, his sister Bev, her husband Art & their sons Scott & Todd, & the wonderful cultural experiences he so enjoyed. One of Bob's great joys in life was music, which had its roots in Mayville. One of his most memorable musical experiences was singing tenor for many years in the Atlanta Symphony Chorus under the direction of Robert Shaw. He also sang in many church choirs & other choruses. He sang in the Tanglewood Music Festival in the Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts for many years. One of the reasons Bob enjoyed Minneapolis so much was because of the music available to him here. He was a supporter of the Minnesota Orchestra & frequently attended their concerts at Orchestra Hall. Another great joy in Bob's life was family & friends. Bob made many friends in all the cities he lived in & continued to keep in contact with them. He was very generous with his family & friends. He liked taking them out to eat & to concerts. He was a wonderful brother & uncle. Bob also enjoyed traveling, visiting his friends in all the cities he had lived in. When his mother Ione was in her 80's, he took her on many an adventurous trip. They cruised to Alaska where they enjoyed white water rafting & when their bus broke down in Egypt, they had to hike across the Sinai Desert. They also rode camels at the pyramids of Giza. Bob had done a lot of traveling recently. Each summer, he spent some time at his family's summer cottage on Lake Melissa near Detroit Lakes MN with a trip to Mayville to visit friends & relatives there. He had just been to Florida to visit his brother Tom & sister-in-law Nancy, and he was planning a trip to California this spring with friends. Bob passed away peacefully at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. His sister Bev, her husband Art & their two sons Scott & Todd were with him. Bob is also survived by his brother Tom (Nancy) of Coral Springs, Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents. A memorial service will be held at the United Church of Christ in Mayville at 11:00 am on Saturday, June 9, 2012. Baker Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.