Delmar A. “Del” Schendel, age 85, of Lake Placid, Fla., died Monday, Aug. 4, 2003 in Ft. Myers Beach, Fla., from complications after surgery for an abdominal aortic aneurysm.

He was born April 17, 1918, in Olivia, Minn., the second of four sons of Martin and Monetta Schendel.

After graduating from Sherburn High School in 1936, he worked in his father’s grocery store until being drafted. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a noncommissioned radiology instructor at Fitzsimmons Hospital in Denver, Colo. While in the army he married Evelyn “Kaye” Kiester in 1945. They were married 39 years.

After an honorable discharge from the army, Del began his 36-year career in the wholesale food industry, working his way through the ranks. He became a traveling door-to-door salesman for Jewel Tea Co. When the opportunity to work for Western Grocer in Albert Lea opened, he took it. He saw the business expand and oversaw the building and management of the Consolidated Foods warehouse in Albert Lea servicing Piggly Wiggly Stores. Later, in 1970 when Curt Carlson bought Piggly Wiggly stores, Del was asked to transfer to Edina, Minn., as an executive vice president with the May Company/Piggly Wiggly Stores. Del and Kaye moved to Edina in 1978. He retired in 1983.

Always among the longest off the tee, Del enjoyed an avid, lifelong love-hate relationship with golf. He was the City Golf League president and a member of Green Lea Golf Course. It was on that course that he made his two holes-in-one. Bowling and playing cards were his pastimes when not on the golf course as well as hunting or enjoying boating on Albert Lea lakes. He continued golfing through his retirement and took part in many golf leagues in Florida.

Del was a longtime member of First Lutheran Church, B.P.O. Elks and Chamber of Commerce, serving in many capacities.

A devoted family man, Mr. Schendel is survived by his two children: Janine (Dr. Steven) Aaker of Elko, Minn., and Dr. Joel (Gay) Schendel of Midlothian, Va.; grandchildren: Joshua, Zachary and Rachel Schendel; his brother, Roger (Jan) Schendel of Eden Prairie, Minn.; golfing partner, sister-in-law, Evelyn (Funfar) Schendel of Ft. Myers Beach, Fla.; and nieces and nephews, and grand-nieces and -nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father; wife, Evelyn &uot;Kaye&uot; Schendel, in 1981; wife, Dorothy Brayman Schendel, in 1997; brothers: Martin (Prior Lake, Minn.) and Donald (EI Paso, TX); and nephew, Martin Jr.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 23, at 1.3O p.m. at Washburn-McReavy Chapel in Edina, with visitation one hour before the service. A private internment will be held at Lakeside Cemetery in Fairmont.

Memorials may be sent to the family and will be dispersed among various charities.