Sheldon “Shel” Sindelar, age 93, of Prior Lake, MN, passed away peacefully on Friday, January 13, 2023, at St. Francis Regional Medical Center, in Shakopee, MN.
A celebration of life service will be held on Monday, January 23, 2023 at 11 am, with visitation from 10-10:45 am, both at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 5634 Luther Road SE, Prior Lake. Pastor Greg DeMuth will preside. Pall bearers will be Craig Sindelar, Bruce Schleeter, Patrick Sullivan, David Oldenburg, Tyrone Babione and Jayson Seema. Shel will receive military honors by the New Prague Veterans Honor Guard, and he will be buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery. Memorials are preferred and will be distributed in Shel’s memory, by the family.
A recoding of the funeral service is available at the following link: Sheldon Sindelar Service Recording .
Sheldon Stanley was born on November 10, 1929, in New Prague, MN, to parents, Stanley and Marcella (Zvanovec) Sindelar. Raised in New Prague, he graduated from New Prague High School in 1947. Shel married Marian Edna Oldenburg on February 11, 1956, at Mount Olivet, in Minneapolis, MN. They raised their two sons, Scott, and Jeffrey, in Richfield, MN, before building their home on Prior Lake over 30 years ago. Shel and Marian were also active members of Berea Lutheran Church in Richfield and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Prior Lake, serving on various church organizations.
Shel enlisted in the United States Army in 1948. He served with the 1st Calvary Division in Tokyo, Japan, as part of the Occupation Forces from 1949-50. Upon the outbreak of the Korean War in 1950, Shel’s unit was immediately deployed to South Korea. He participated in several major engagements of the war, including the Pusan Perimeter, liberation of Seoul, and the advance to the Yalu River. Shel received 5 Battle Stars for his service, returned to the United States in 1951 and was discharged from the Army in 1952. He was a lifelong member of New Prague’s American Legion, receiving a plaque for 70 continuous years of service as a member, and VFW.
After graduating from Dunwoody Institute, Shel began working for the Sherwin-Williams Company and managed retail stores in Richfield and Eagan, from 1954-1984. Following retirement, Shel took on a position with Sears, where he worked until 2003.
Shel enjoyed summer and winter fishing, especially his many trips to Canada. He also was an avid hunter. Shel and Marian also loved to travel, visiting Thailand, China, Korea, South Africa, and Europe. Both Shel and Marian were also regulars at the Prior Lake V.F.W for the food and to be with family and friends.
Forever missed and loved by sons, Scott (Jo) Sindelar, Jeffrey (Kris) Sindelar; grandson, Matthew (Serri Graslie) Sindelar and their child, great-grandson Otis; grandson, Micah Sindelar; sisters, Daisy Babione, Joy Seema; sister-in-law, Marilyn Sindelar; other relatives and friends
There to greet Shel home in heaven is his wife, Marian; parents, Stanley and Marcella; siblings, Russell Sindelar, Sally (Hank) Schleeter, Iris (Bob) Sullivan; brothers-in-law, Rob Babione and Paul Seema.
