John James Mastel Sr.

John James Mastel Sr., age 89, passed from earth to heaven on June 2nd, 2026, at Amira Choice in Roseville of Alzheimer Dementia. John was born on April 14th, 1937, in Trail City, South Dakota as the 4th of 7 children born to Peter & Frances Mastel. 

John graduated from Baker High School in Baker, Montana in 1955, and upon graduation enrolled in a correspondence school for airline work until April, 1956, then went to Spokane, Washington for completion. His military draft status kept him from a job offer he wanted in Seattle at the old Pan Am Airlines. He also picked up his mother (Frances) in South Dakota on the way back from Baker, MT to attend the wedding of his sister, Alvina, to Lyle Pheneger, in St. Paul, MN; and took up permanent residence with them in their Summit Avenue apartment.

In March 1957, he enlisted in a four-year program at Lackland Air Force Base, but previous stomach ulcers gave him a medical disqualification. He came back to Minnesota and began working for the Minnesota State Highway Department (now MNDOT) in the new Federal Interstate Highway program as a technician, later as an inspector, and then a methods analyst. In 1959 and 1960, he took a leave of absence to attend five quarters of pre-engineering at the University of Minnesota Institute of Technology. During his highway employment in 1966, a serious intestinal illness hospitalized him for 54 days. That illness was an opportunity for John to learn about natural healing systems and nutrition. In late 1968, he opened a health food store (Mastel’s Health Foods) working part-time on the side and then went full-time in August 1976. In 1991, the National McNeil-Lear program interviewed him and then in 1999, the Daily Show from New York spent four and half hours in the store to create a two-minute show on Echinacea broadcasted nationally on Comedy Central. 

After John retired from day-to-day management of the store in 2000, he moved to his 8.5 acre hobby farm in Afton, MN to fuel another passion for growing fruit trees. In 2023, after 55 years of ownership, John sold his store to 2 of his long-time managers, Lauren Gaffney and Alina Hornfeldt; who continue to operate it with the same focus on education and customer service as John had done for the first 55 years. 

He committed his life to Jesus during a prayer at the altar on Easter Sunday, 2023, which was positively confirmed while he was on hospice care before his death. John spent his final days of his life surrounded by four generations of family including his sister, Alvina; brother-in-law, Tom Aras; his nieces and nephews (including grands/greats), and many friends until he was called home to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ forever.

John is preceded in death by his father and mother, Peter and Frances Mastel; his son, Johnny Mastel Jr.; sisters, Eileen Tetu, Mary Ann Schmidt, Helen Rengel and Barbara Aras; and brother, Adolph Mastel. He is survived by his sister, Alvina Pheneger; brother-in-law, Tom Aras; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service is planned for Saturday, June 27th at 11 AM, with a visitation one hour prior, and lunch to follow the service at North Heights Church – Arden Hills Chapel, 1700 W Hwy 96, Arden Hills, MN 55112. Graveside service will follow at Roselawn Cemetery, 803 Larpenteur Ave W, Roseville, MN 55113.

Memorial gifts preferred to Union Gospel Mission (UGM) – Twin Cities. 

The family would like to thank the health care professionals of Amira Choice, MHealth/Fairview and Optage Hospice for their love, care and support they have shown to John (and us!) during his last years and days of his life. 

To God Be the Glory! (Galations 1:5)

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