Al Mackdanz

R. Alfred Mackdanz Jr., age 80, passed away Tuesday, January 4, 2022 from cardiac arrest.

Al was born in Mankato, Minnesota where he studied and graduated from Mankato West High School.  He studied at Macalester College in St. Paul and had a parakeet named Chivas Regal.

He joined the Navy and sailed on the USS Hornet, operating the 51 turret director.  He fondly remembered taking leave while docked in Japan and discovering a new world of friendly people and great food.

After leaving the service he graduated with a degree in Sociology and Psychology from Mankato State University.  While in southern Minnesota he worked variously as a chemical dependency counselor, a court reporter, and a legal secretary.

In 1986 he moved to Creston, Iowa to serve as a Transition Coordinator and Work Experience Coordinator for Green Valley Area Education Agency for the remainder of his career, tirelessly driving to a number of area schools to help individual students.

He immediately became a fixture at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church where his radio-ready voice delivered compelling scripture readings before scurrying back to the organ to play the next hymn.

In retirement this lifelong fan of Greek mythology traveled to Greece and was glad to visit the island of Delos, birthplace of Artemis.  He loved making the annual drive to the Black Hills to have Thanksgiving with his mother-in-law Marilyn.  Al spent three years in Austin, Texas before returning to Creston which he considered home.  He found fellowship at Salem Lutheran Church.

Al’s hobby was collecting friends.  He always had something unexpected to say.  More importantly he was a prodigious listener and never stopped being a counselor to anyone that needed a friendly soul to talk to or a point in the right direction.  No restaurant server escaped an over-generous tip.  He was a better piano player than he would ever admit.

Al is survived by children Gretal St. Onge of Lakeville, Minnesota and Erik Mackdanz of Austin, Texas, and grandchildren Honor, Paul and Gloria.  He has always been very proud of all of them.

Al is predeceased by his sister Rachel of Edina, Minnesota and his parents Helen Rachel and Walter Croswell of Mankato, Minnesota.

Memorials can be made to the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption.

A virtual streaming service will take place on Saturday, Jan 15 at 10:30 Central: https://www.mykeeper.com/event/virtual-memorial20/