Joseph Edward Fasnacht

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m., on Saturday, March 10, 2018 at All Saints Catholic Church, 605 4th St, Madison Lake with burial at Calvary Cemetery in Madison Lake.  Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m - 7:00 p.m., on Friday, March 9, 2018 at Northview -North Mankato Mortuary, 2060 Commerce Drive, North Mankato with a Rosary at 4:00 p.m.  Visitation will also continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Saturday.  Northview - North Mankato Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.


Joe was born on March 14, 1936, the youngest of eleven children of Adolph and Iverna (Miller) Fasnacht.

After graduating from Loyola High School in 1954, Joe proudly entered the Army, he medically retired from the service in 1957.  Joe met and married Marcella Handevidt in 1958. Together they raised three children.  Marcella preceded Joe in death, August 9, 2003.

Joe worked for Bill Kindler Motors for 23 years, where he formed many lifelong friendships.  He taught all of his children how to drive a manual transmission Volkswagens of every size, shape and color.  He managed his own business for 10 years, then went on to being a rural mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service until retiring to Arizona in 1997.  He taught his children the importance of a strong work ethic, loyalty and the desire to be the best we could be.  We knew growing up that we could go to Dad for help with anything, he could fix just about everything.

Joe formed and sponsored the Mankato Twins Amateur Baseball team. This was a very happy and memorable time in his life, the family spent many hours at the ballpark following the Twins.

Among his other life accomplishments he served as Chair or Co-Chair of MACS Night for five years. He was Commander and Vice Commander of the American Legion Post 269, Commander of the American Legion Post 269 Honor Guard.

Joe married Georgia Hottinger, February 11, 2006. They were members of All Saints Catholic Church in Madison Lake and together they served as Eucharistic Ministers.  They were also Gambling Manager’s for the American Legion Post 269 and enjoyed volunteering at the Mankato Moose Lodge.

Joe is survived by his wife, Georgia Fasnacht; children, Heidi (Jim) St. Peter of Mankato, Chris (Kris) Fasnacht of Eden Prairie and Randi (Sara Riley) Fasnacht of Palm Coast, Florida; grandchildren, Amy (Scott) Wolfe of Mankato, Josh Anderson of Mankato, Ben Fasnacht of Eden Prairie, Eric Fasnacht of Eden Prairie, Rose Riley of Palm Coast, Florida and Mae Fasnacht of Palm Coast, Florida; step-children, Bill (Heidi) Hottinger of Silverdale, Washington, Chuck (Katy) Hottinger of Madison Lake, Julie Hottinger of North Mankato, Dan (Joyce) Hottinger of Woodbury, Ken (Candace) Hottinger of Mankato, Jennifer (Matt) Schmidt of North Mankato and Rose (Joel) Koenigs of Blaine; 23 step-grandchildren and 11 step-great-grandchildren; sisters, Zita Rohlfing, Tilda Schneider, Dorothy  Rohlfing Rasdall, and Lucille (Lyle Grothe), sisters in law June Fasnacht and Mrytle Handevidt, brother in law Curt (Cec) Handevidt  and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Marcella; step-children, Michael Hottinger and Jerry Hottinger; brothers, Jerome (Evie), Cyril (Iverna) and Robert; sisters, Helen (Louie) Chatleain, Lorraine (Francis) Schraml and Sally (Tony) Reintjes;  brothers in law, Bob Rohlfing, Eddie Schneider, John Rohlfing, Dewey Rasdall, Donald Handevidt; sisters in law, Helen Vacura, and Dorothy Reiter.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Mankato Hospice for guiding Joe and his family through his final journey.

Memorials are preferred to All Saints Catholic Church of Madison Lake or Hospice of Mankato.