Obituary of Al Bandel

Albert Clarence Bandel was born February 6, 1935 to Traugott and Lydia Holzwarth Bandel in their rural home in St. Francis, Kansas. He was a baptized child of God and confirmed into the faith of his ancestors at Zion Lutheran Church. He graduated from St. Francis High School in 1953 and attended Fort Hays State College where he was a member of Kappa Sigma Kappa. He was very active in the intramural athletics program where he won many awards, was a member of the gymnastics team and was recognized in 1954-55 as ‘Outstanding Athlete of the Year’ in intramurals. It was at Fort Hays State that he met the love of his life, Norma Johnson of Agra, Kansas. They were married June 10, 1956. Daughter Sonya was born four days before he graduated from Fort Hays with a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Arts. In the fall of 1957 the family moved to Rexford, Kansas where Al took his first teaching job as well as coaching men’s and women’s basketball. During his time in Rexford, daughter Teresa and son Jerry were born. In 1964, the family moved to Burlington and into the new home he built. Soon son Larry was born into the family. The family joined First St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Al taught Industrial Arts at the high school and coached Track and Field for sixteen years taking teams to State many times. Al also helped bring the Fellowship of Christian Athletes program to Burlington High School. While teaching, he constructed homes for families in the community and after leaving teaching, realized a big dream of his by opening his own business to serve the communities, contractors and construction companies in the area. Burlington Home Center was that dream and opens its doors for business in 1974. In 1975, Al bought acreage north of Burlington and began planning this place to build his own home, his dream home. In 1988, he and Norma moved into that home built for all his children, grandchildren and friends to enjoy. His father once told him, “You should leave the world a better place for having been here”. With that advice, he lived life with purpose and direction. Always looking to the future for the next thing he wanted to accomplish to fulfill that advice. He would seek out the best seeds for next summer’s garden, plant trees and flowers creating a Garden of Eden in his own backyard. It was a great source of pride and joy and a labor of love for him that not only his family, but friends and neighbors could enjoy. There were beautiful spring blooms, summer orchards, the turning of fall leaves and his favorite winter wonderland of Christmas lights in the trees. He loved fishing, golfing, softball, traveling, hunting and could still beat the grandkids at ping pong! Al claimed the promise of his baptism on January 25, 2015. He is preceded in death by his parents and son, Larry. He leaves to mourn him: wife Norma, daughter Sonya Bandel – Rath, her husband Stephen Rath, children Michal, Andrew and Jordan; daughter Teresa Bandel-Schott, her husband Kevin Schott, children Neelly and Hilliary; son Jerry and wife Denise, children Jared and Alyssa ‘Woo’; sister Anne Mitchell of Hudson, CO, brother Tom Bandel and family of St. Francis and brother, John Bandel and family of Hill City, South Dakota; uncle Ruben Bandel and family of St. Francis as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family.