Obituary for Bill Ableidinger Print Bill Ableidinger was 80 years old when he died peacefully on Monday, February 11th, 2019 at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, MN with family by his side. Bill was born on June 12th, 1938 in Durand, WI where he grew up on his family’s farm. After graduating from Durand High School in 1956, Bill moved to Minneapolis, MN.
While attending a dance at the Prom Ballroom in St. Paul, MN, Bill met his future bride, Dorothea. Bill married Dorothea Mae (Lenz) Ableidinger on May 22, 1965 in St. Michael, MN. A few years after their marriage, Bill and Dorothea moved to their farm in New Prague, MN where they have lived for the past 50 years.
Bill worked for the Minneapolis John Deere Sales & Parts Distribution Center from 1957-1978. The distribution center was located in the Deere & Webber Co. building in the Minneapolis Warehouse District and later moved to Bloomington, MN. During this same time, Bill also served in the Air Force as a mechanic, both reserve and active duty, until 1964.
Bill left John Deere to pursue his hobby of farming on a full-time basis and to start his own business selling farm implements. Bill’s hobbies included all things tractor-related, especially driving tractors, for any reason. One of his favorite tractors growing up was a 1950 TO20 Ferguson.
He drove this when he was 12 years old to plow the field. Bill had a special fondness for antique tractors, of which he most enjoyed the putt-putt sound of the engine. He collected antique tractors and scale-size models.
Bill also really liked anything to do with cars. Bill had a curious nature and enjoyed learning about many things, including topics pertaining to farming, farm implements and cars. People often mentioned how impressed they were by his knowledge on these subjects, both historical and current.
Over the years, Bill likely could have patented items from the many creative solutions he had for improvements. Bill and Dorothea loved polka music and over the years they traveled the country to attend polka fests and dances. There are many episodes of the Big Joe Polka Show television series where Bill and Dorothea can be seen out on the dance floor.
Bill’s favorite music also included classic country, especially Johnny Cash, and songs by Irish singer Daniel O’Donnell. Bill had a clever sense of humor and was quick to share a laugh with others. His favorite television shows, always good for sharing a laugh, included All in the Family and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.
Bill was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. Bill always said that marrying Dorothea, the love of his life and his wife of 53 years, was the best decision he ever made. Bill is survived by his wife Dorothea Mae (Lenz) Ableidinger, children: Nancy Ableidinger and Tracy (Drew) Franzen, grandchildren: Zack Franzen and Ava Franzen, brothers: Bob (Susan) Ableidinger, Jim (Kathy) Ableidinger, Tom Ableidinger, Don (Rose Ann) Ableidinger; other relatives and friends.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents, William Frank and Wilma Ann (Koller) Ableidinger. A private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Hubert Catholic Church, Chanhassen, MN. Interment: St. Hubert Catholic Cemetery, Chanhassen, MN.
Expressions of sympathy for the Ableidinger family may be left at the Memory Wall tab located above To send flowers to the family of Bill Ableidinger, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store. Immediate Need Select Language ▼ Contact Us / Location Bill Ableidinger June 12, 1938 – February 11, 2019 Share this tribute Funeral Details Memory Wall Photos & Videos Send Flowers Obituary for Bill Ableidinger Print Bill Ableidinger was 80 years old when he died peacefully on Monday, February 11th, 2019 at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, MN with family by his side. Bill was born on June 12th, 1938 in Durand, WI where he grew up on his family’s farm.
After graduating from Durand High School in 1956, Bill moved to Minneapolis, MN. While attending a dance at the Prom Ballroom in St. Paul, MN, Bill met his future bride, Dorothea. Bill married Dorothea Mae (Lenz) Ableidinger on May 22, 1965 in St. Michael, MN.
A few years after their marriage, Bill and Dorothea moved to their farm in New Prague, MN where they have lived for the past 50 years. Bill worked for the Minneapolis John Deere Sales & Parts Distribution Center from 1957-1978. The distribution center was located in the Deere & Webber Co. building in the Minneapolis Warehouse District and later moved to Bloomington, MN.
During this same time, Bill also served in the Air Force as a mechanic, both reserve and active duty, until 1964. Bill left John Deere to pursue his hobby of farming on a full-time basis and to start his own business selling farm implements. Bill’s hobbies included all things tractor-related, especially driving tractors, for any reason.
One of his favorite tractors growing up was a 1950 TO20 Ferguson. He drove this when he was 12 years old to plow the field. Bill had a special fondness for antique tractors, of which he most enjoyed the putt-putt sound of the engine.
He collected antique tractors and scale-size models. Bill also really liked anything to do with cars. Bill had a curious nature and enjoyed learning about many things, including topics pertaining to farming, farm implements and cars.
People often mentioned how impressed they were by his knowledge on these subjects, both historical and current. Over the years, Bill likely could have patented items from the many creative solutions he had for improvements. Bill and Dorothea loved polka music and over the years they traveled the country to attend polka fests and dances.
There are many episodes of the Big Joe Polka Show television series where Bill and Dorothea can be seen out on the dance floor. Bill’s favorite music also included classic country, especially Johnny Cash, and songs by Irish singer Daniel O’Donnell. Bill had a clever sense of humor and was quick to share a laugh with others.
His favorite television shows, always good for sharing a laugh, included All in the Family and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Bill was a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend. Bill always said that marrying Dorothea, the love of his life and his wife of 53 years, was the best decision he ever made.
Bill is survived by his wife Dorothea Mae (Lenz) Ableidinger, children: Nancy Ableidinger and Tracy (Drew) Franzen, grandchildren: Zack Franzen and Ava Franzen, brothers: Bob (Susan) Ableidinger, Jim (Kathy) Ableidinger, Tom Ableidinger, Don (Rose Ann) Ableidinger; other relatives and friends. Bill is preceded in death by his parents, William Frank and Wilma Ann (Koller) Ableidinger. A private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Hubert Catholic Church, Chanhassen, MN.
Interment: St. Hubert Catholic Cemetery, Chanhassen, MN. Expressions of sympathy for the Ableidinger family may be left at the Memory Wall tab located above To send flowers to the family of Bill Ableidinger, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store. Service Information Officiating Father Rolf Tollefson Co-Celebrant Father Aric Aamodt Location St. Hubert Catholic Community Address 8201 Main Street Chanhassen, MN 55317 Text Directions Email Directions View Map Alltel Service Extra Info This is a private Mass of Christian Burial to be held at St. Hubert Catholic Church Send Flowers for Bill’s Service Interment Information Location St. Hubert Catholic Cemetery Address Chanhassen Chanhassen, MN 55317 Text Directions Email Directions View Map Alltel Send Flowers for Bill’s interment Family Log-In The Family Interactive feature enhances the Book of Memories.
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