Gerald Leonard "Jess" Mittelstaedt Obituary (1937 - 2002)

Born Nov 09, 1937, Gerald Leonard "Jess" Mittelstaedt attended Waseca High School in Waseca, MN. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Gerald Leonard "jess" Mittelstaedt.

Graduation Year	Class of 1955
Date of Birth	Nov 09, 1937
Date of Passing	Jan 11, 2002
About	Gerald "Jess" Mittelstaedt, age 64, of Mapleton, died Friday, January 11, 2002 at his residence. Jess, the son of Leonard and Rosella (Seewald) Mittlestaedt, was born November 9, 1937 in Waseca. He was baptized on December 12, 1937, confirmed March 18, 1951 and married Sandra Pieper on June 25, 1961, all at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Waseca. A 1955 graduate of Waseca Central High School, Jess played trumpet in the school band. He worked his way through college playing in the Fezz Fritsche Goose Town Band of New Ulm. Jess attended the U of MN where he played in the band. In the Army, he was a member of the 4th Armored Division Band and was discharged in 1959. In 1962 he graduated from MSU and taught music for three years in Goodhue. He came to Mapleton in 1965 where he taught music from forth grade to twelfth, retiring in 1993 from Maple River East Jr. High School. He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church, and directed the choir for over twenty years as well as singing and playing the trumpet. He was a member of the Assn. of MN Reserve Band Veterans. He enjoyed canoeing, doing handiwork and repairs, woodworking, reading and music, especially classical and jazz. In earlier years, Jess enjoyed curling. Jess is survived by his wife, Sandra, a son, Thomas Mittelstaedt of Chaska; two daughters, Jennifer Mittlestaedt of Washburn, Wisc.m and Elizabeth "Betsy" Readmond, and her husband, David, of Shakopee; grandson Cade Readmond, four nieces and one nephew. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Dale Mittlestaedt and Lawrence Mittlestaedt.