Memorial Service for Howard D. Abel, age 86, of Welcome, MN will be 10:30 am on Monday, October 11, 2021, at the Lakeview Funeral Home Chapel in Fairmont. Visitation will be 3:00 to 5:00 pm on Sunday, October 10, at the Lakeview Funeral Home and will continue one hour prior to the service on Monday. Howard passed away Tuesday morning, October 5, 2021, at his home in rural Welcome. The Lakeview Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Fairmont is assisting the family with arrangements.
Howard Duane Abel was born on October 29, 1934, in East Chain, MN. He was the son of Charles and Elda (Rosenberg) Abel. Howard attended East Chain public schools and later graduated from Welcome High School in 1954.
On June 24, 1977, Howard was united in marriage to Eileen Spidahl in Welcome, MN. The couple resided on the family farm where they were blessed with three children, Jodi, Lisa, and Kevin. Howard and Eileen shared forty-four years together.
Howard was a life-long dairy farmer and also harvested crops and farmed with his brother, Edwin. He shared his love of farming as a member of 4H with his brother, Norman. Throughout the years, Howard also worked at Glasstite in Dunnell for twenty years as well as working at Nelson Ice Cream.
When Howard wasn’t fishing or hunting, he could be found with his brothers and sisters playing cards, especially Solo. He enjoyed watching western movies and Twins baseball along with going to casinos. Howard and Eileen were able to travel to almost all fifty states including Hawaii and Alaska as well as a trip to Australia. Howard also loved spreading some Christmas joy by singing “Jingle Bells”…all year long. He most loved any time he was able to spend with his family.
Left to cherish his memory include his wife, Eileen Abel of Welcome, MN; children, Jodi Zeitz and her husband, Alden, of Fairmont, MN, Lisa Koenecke and her husband, Randy, of Welcome, MN, and Kevin Abel and his wife, Krishna, of St. George, Utah; grandchildren, Adam and Kim Zeitz and their children, Paige, Lauren, and Ben, of Fallbrook, California, Joshua Zeitz of Fairmont, MN, Derek Koenecke and his son, David, of Welcome, MN, Zachary and Lauren Koenecke and their children, Beckett and Jade, of Welcome, MN, Dalton Koenecke of Welcome, MN, Morgan Abel of Fort Bragg, NC, and Brenna Abel of St. George, Utah; siblings, Edwin Abel and his wife, Marlene, of Byron, MN, Evelyn Koons Altman of Welcome, MN, Arnold Abel of Fairmont, MN, Norman Abel of Fairmont, MN, and Joan Reigel of Elk Grove Village, IL; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Alice and Donald Evenhus, Marlys Decoteau, Donald Spidahl, Merlin and Jane Spidahl, Donna and Dennis Wolle, and Berdell and Sylvester Rathman; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.
Along with his parents, Charles and Elda Abel, Howard was preceded in death by his parents-in-law, Melrin and Inga Spidahl; brothers, Irvin Abel and his wife, Fay, and Walter Abel and his wife, Carolyn; brothers-in-law, William Koons, John Reigel, Joseph Altman, Gerald Spidahl and his wife, Julie and George Decoteau; sisters-in-law, Rita Abel, Sue Abel, Millie Lang and her husband, Sylvester, and Lillian Evenhus and her husband, Gordon; nephews, Michael Abel, Jeffrey Abel and Daniel Lang.
Memorials are preferred to the Lutz Cancer Center in Fairmont or to UHD Home Health and Hospice.
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