Russell "Russ" W. Simondet

Lake Crystal Mortuary 648 S. Main Street Lake Crystal, MN 56055 (507) 726-6161 Russell M. Simondet, age 97, of Lake Crystal, passed away October 20, 2014 at the Madelia Community Hospital, surrounded by his family. He had been on hospice since May of 2014. Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m., Friday, October 24, 2014 at the First Presbyterian Church, Lake Crystal, with Rev. Randal Lubbers, officiating. Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m., Thursday at Lake Crystal Mortuary and will continue one hour before the service at the church on Friday. Interment will be in Lake Crystal Cemetery. Memorials may be given to the Madelia Community Hospital, Mayo Clinic Health System, Mankato - Hospice, or the First Presbyterian Church. Russ was born May 20, 1917 in North Redwood, Minnesota to William and Sarah (Lipp) Simondet. He moved to Mankato in 1931 at the age of 14. He graduated from Franklin School in 1935 and went to Mankato Teachers College. He taught Biology in Russell, MN from 1941-42. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on August 21, 1942 and was honorably discharged on December 18, 1945. He then went back to Mankato Teachers College to get his bachelor's degree in Industrial Arts. He met the love of his life, Kathryn Doreen "Dode" James on a bus, they were married on February 4, 1947 at the First Presbyterian Church in Lake Crystal. They moved to Crystal, MN where he taught Industrial Arts and was the head gymnastic coach for 15 years at Robinsdale High School. They moved to Lake Crystal in 1964 to take over James Hardware after Thede James, Dode's father passed away. He ran the Hardware Store and taught fire arms training to kids in Lake Crystal. He retired in 1994. He was a member of the Masons, the Lake Crystal American Legion, and the First Presbyterian Church in Lake Crystal. After Russ's retirement in 1994 he enjoyed fishing, woodwork, shopping, and most of all spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was known to many as the "Candy Man". He loved passing out Werther's and chocolate to family, friends, and even strangers, just to see a smile on someone's face. Russ is survived by his children, Nikki (Jerry) Waldron, Juli McDougall, James (Julie) Simondet, and Scott Simondet; his grandchildren, Cheri, Mike, Matt, Chris, Marc, Lee, Stephani, Cory, Sarah, and Maggie; 19 great-grandchildren; two nephews; one niece. Russ was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Dode on December 29, 1988; sister, Jeanne (George) Rosnau; brother, Jasper (Marge) Simondet.