Fidelis “F.J.” Wingert, 90, of Fountain, died on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013, at Seasons Hospice in Rochester. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at Preston United Methodist Church with the Rev. Beth Perez officiating. Burial will be in the United Methodist Cemetery, Preston.

F.J. was born on Feb. 8, 1923, in Wesley, Iowa, the son of Julius and Catherine (Braunger) Wingert. He attended school in Iowa through the eighth grade. After school he worked as a hired hand for Burnsmore Farms and Rob Ott, both in Albert Lea. On July 14, 1946, he married Beverly Louise Eberhardt at Pickeral Lake Methodist Church in Albert Lea. In 1949 the couple moved to Adams and started farming there until 1955 when they moved to Chester, Iowa, and rented a farm. F.J. also hauled can milk there until 1959. Also in 1959, they moved to their present farm near Fountain, and he sold DeKalb seed corn. He stayed active on the farm until 2006. F.J. was also an avid Black Angus cattle raiser. He was a longtime member of Fountain Methodist Church.

F.J. is survived by his wife, Beverly; three sons, Jerry (Shirley) of Preston, Bruce (Tracy) of Fountain and Bill (Janeen) of Preston; two daughters, Nancy Hartley of New Albin, Iowa, and Louise (Joe) Marquardt of Spring Valley; 17 grandchildren; and 28 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one granddaughter; one great-granddaughter; three brothers; one sister; one son-in-law; and mother- and father-in-law.

Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Thauwald Funeral Home in Preston and also one hour prior to services at the church on Monday. Online condolences may be left at thauwaldfuneralhomes.com.