Leslie “Red” Faundeen, 80

Blue Earth — Leslie “Red” Faundeen, age 80, of Blue Earth, died Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009, at United Hospital, Blue Earth.

Funeral services were held April 16, 2009, at Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Blue Earth. Rev. Mark McNea officiated. Burial was in Calvary Cemetery, Blue Earth. Patton Funeral Home and Cremation Service was in charge of arrangements.

Red was born Oct. 31, 1928, at Tracy, the son of August and Hazel (Scott) Faundeen. He was raised and educated in rural Balaton where he graduated from Balaton High school in 1946. Following school he moved to Marshall where he was a salesman and owned a delivery service before his marriage to Marian E. Farrell on Aug. 25, 1949, in Marshall. In 1951, he was called up to active duty in the U.S. Army spending two years at Camp Rucker, Ala. He continued serving his country through the National Guard where he coached the Marshall Guard basketball team to multiple state championships.

Red worked at a variety of jobs through the years but primarily sold insurance through the banking industry in Iowa for many years with what is now The Principal Group and began to work in Des Moines, Iowa, before relocating permanently to Blue Earth in 1965. He retired in 1985. Red was always very active in many local community events and causes. He was an active volunteer with his church, with Riverside Town and Country Club, helping local farmers, was a local sports radio announcer covering basketball, baseball and wrestling, sponsored many men’s and women’s softball teams and was very active with the Blue Earth Chamber of Commerce for many years. Red always enjoyed collecting antique cars, sports, especially golf, and also enjoyed hunting and year-round fishing with friends and family, particularly with his three grandsons.

Leslie E. “Red” Faundeen is survived by his wife, Marian Faundeen of Blue Earth, his son, John (Cheryl) Faundeen of Sioux Falls, S.D., his daughter, JoAnn (Duane) Mlsna of Sioux Falls, and his grandsons, Christopher Faundeen, David Mlsna and Daniel Mlsna.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Stanley Faundeen and sister and brother-in-law, Phyllis and Johnny Petersen.

Web tributes may be left at www.pattonfh.com