Thursday, August 11 | 10:30 AM

Ferdinand Hendrick Van Maele, 88, of Minnetonka, Minnesota, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday August 2, 2022. He passed peacefully into eternal life surrounded by his family during an extended stay at Methodist Hospital.

Ferdinand (affectionately known as "Fred") was born in Roeselare, Belgium on October 23, 1933. He proudly served in the Belgium Army and after receiving an honorable discharge, he emigrated to the United States, becoming a US Citizen on St. Patrick's Day 1956. Fred met and married the love of his life on June 12, 1970. Together they had three daughters. Fred was a loyal, hard working man. He worked for two employers during his 40 years of employment, taking part time work when needed to put his girls through college. Fred was a fun-loving person and had a tender heart. He enjoyed his Michigan State Spartans football, he loved helping his family, relatives and friends and he cherished the companionship of animals especially the numerous cats and dogs that his girls adopted over the years.

Ferdinand is survived by his wife Shirley of 52 years, daughters Barbara (Michael) Mercer, Donna Kelly (Richard Klaus) and Linda Van Maele; grandson Brendan Mercer; sister-in-law, Constance Bak; niece Anne Marine, nephews Michael, Robert and Geoffrey Bak and other extended family. Ferdinand was a loving father, husband, grandfather, brother-in-law, uncle and friend to everyone.

Preceding him in death were his father and mother Victor and Emma Van Maele; his Father and Mother-in-Law Frank and Bernice Sass; and his Sister-in-Law Patricia Sass.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30AM on Thursday, August 11th with visitation one hour prior, all at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 5071 Eden Ave, Edina. Memorial donations may be made is his memory to the American Cancer Society or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.