Andrew Edward Nistler, 84, of Shooks, MN died on Wednesday, May 2, 2012, at his home in Shooks, MN.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 11:00 am on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Kelliher with Rev. Steven Daigle and Rev. Raul Perez-Cobo officiating. Visitation will be held from 5 – 8 pm on Friday May 4th at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Kelliher with a prayer service at 7:00 pm followed by the rosary. Visitation will also be one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Shooks, MN with full military honors provided by the American Legion Post # 470 of Kelliher, MN. Cease Funeral Home of Blackduck assisted the family with arrangements. Active Pallbearers will be his 8 sons, Mike, Tony, David, Leonard, Roger, Mark, Ed, and John Nistler. Honorary Pallbearers will be his grand children and great grandchildren.

Andrew was one of 8 children, 2 boys and 6 girls born to George and Anna (Mahowald) Nistler on September 7, 1927 at Shooks, MN. He attended his first 8 grades of school at Shooks Country School, and then High School in Kelliher, MN. He helped his parents run the Shooks Post Office and Store. Before graduating he was drafted into the US Navy on September 10, 1945 and served during the end of WWII. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Seaman First Class on August 4, 1946. He returned to Shooks and started dairy farming in 1948. He married Anna Parochka on August 26, 1952 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Shooks and were active members there. Andrew always wanted to be a farmer and was for almost 50 years, retiring in 1998. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing cards, gardening, camping. He and Anna enjoyed traveling in the United States, Mexico, Canada, and Rome. He especially loved spending time with his family. He was an active member of American Legion Post #470 in Kelliher and was a past officer. He was a third degree member of the Knights of Columbus Council #1344. He was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Kelliher and served as a Eucharistic minister and reader. He served on the Kelliher School Board for about 20 years and had served as its chairman. He belonged to the Beltrami County NFO, National Farmers Organization, and was a past president. He was a member of the North Beltrami County Heritage Board.

He is survived by his wife, Anna Nistler of Shooks; children, Carol and Lloyd Sobiek of Bemidji, Loretta and Gary Bjerke of Pinewood, Mary and Jerry Geerdes of Shooks, Mike and Cathy Nistler of Kelliher, Anthony and Ann Nistler of Bemidji, Elaine and Joe Omann of Cold Spring, Judy and Randy Dallman of Eden Prairie, Colleen and Kevin Rook of Thief River Falls, David and Beatrice Nistler of Shooks, Leonard and Justine Nistler of Shooks, Roger and Michelle Nistler of Walker, Mark Nistler and fiancé Kate, of Savage, Ed Nistler of Sartell and John and Shelley Nistler of Bemidji; 43 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; sisters, Catherine Radermacher of Wadena, Sr. Ruth Nistler of Little Falls, Lucille Dockendorf of Hines and Teresa Brummer of Florida.

He was preceded in death by sisters, Mary Daigle of Deer River, Sr. Florence Nistler of Little Falls; brother, Fr. Edward Nistler; his parent5s, George and Anna Nistler of Shooks, a grandson, Jeffrey Geerdes of Shooks and twin grandsons.