Burton R. Wandmacher

Burt Wandmacher (94 years old), passed away peacefully on October 13, 2025.

He was born June 9, 1931 in St. Paul, Minnesota. He was the eldest son of 6 boys to parents, Verna Bergetta (Anderson) Wandmacher and Lester Wandmacher. He was a beloved son, brother, husband, father, uncle, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

He married Lois Mae Knudson on May 29, 1954. They celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in 2024. Burt and Lois raised a family of four children in Roseville, Minnesota. Burt was a devoted husband and father who loved and supported his family. Burt was an active member in the community as coach for youth baseball team and as leader for a Cub Scout Troop in Roseville. He was a strong supporter of his kids in various youth sports activities. Burt enjoyed playing golf at Keller Golf Course where he was a member for many decades, President in 1962-1964 and “Keller’s Man of the Year” in 1989. Also, he was an usher and helped count weekly offerings at North Heights Lutheran Church

Burt began working at a young age to help provide for his family. His list of jobs as a child was selling Collier & Liberty magazines at Miller and St. Joseph’s Hospitals at the age of 7-10, delivering Shoppers Guide at the age of 10-11, delivering papers for two routes of the St. Paul Dispatch-Pioneer Press at the age of 12-14, golf caddying for $0.75-$2.00 per round at Keller Golf Course at the age of 11-14, pin setting at Stromswalls Bowling Lanes on NE corner of Arcade Street & Jenks Avenue in the winter time at the age of 14, and errand boy at his Uncle Obert’s drug stores located at Hall & Anderson and St. Peter & 4th Street at the age of 15-16, and short order cook at the Keller Club House at the age of 16-20.

He graduated from St. Paul Johnson High School in 1950. Following graduation, he loaded produce on mail carts for St. Paul Union Depot in 1951 and drove a taxicab in St. Paul during 1951-52. Burt was drafted in 1952, where he proudly served as a radio operator from 1952-1954 in the United States Marines Corps during the Korean War.

He worked for Northwestern Bell, which was part of AT&T (which is now Lumens Technologies, after the Bell Systems corporation break up and many subsequent acquisitions) for 36 years from 1954-1990 in various positions of increasing responsibility from Splicer Helper, Line Crewman, Central Office Technician, Test Center Analyzer, Marketer, Sales Person, Outside Plant Engineering, Cable Foreman, Central Office Forecaster, Project Engineer, Trainer for Outside Plant Engineers, Staff Manager of Engineering, to Cable Manager.

After his retirement, Burt was a Bus Driver for Roseville Area Schools in 2002-2004, a Host for casino trips on Turco Bus Company for 7-8 years, and volunteered to deliver newspapers and call for Bingo at St. Andrew’s Village in Mahtomedi

He is survived by his four children, Robert (Lynn), Richard, David and Judy (John) Axelson; nine grandchildren, Douglas, Corissa (Justin), Robin (Atsushi), Cassandra (Josh), Kelsey, Charles (Katie), Cadrian (Brock), Jillian (Braden) and Elisha; three great-grandchildren, River, Silas and Amelia; and his brothers, Franklin, Gary and Thomas Wandmacher;

Burt is preceded in death by his wife, Lois Wandmacher; parents, Lester and Verna Wandmacher; and brothers, Donald and John Wandmacher.

The family would like to thank Optage Hospice and Johanna Shores (Presbyterian Homes) for providing a loving and supportive environment to accommodate his ever increasing needs and care. The family is requesting memorials to either of these organizations in his honor.

Funeral service 11:00 AM Monday, October 27 at North Heights Lutheran Church, 2701 N. Rice St., Roseville. Visitation at the church from 10-11 AM Monday. A luncheon will be held immediately following the service followed by interment at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, 1800 Edgerton St., Maplewood.