September 23, 1933 - November 12, 2024
Philip Fandrei, age 91 of Bloomington, passed into the arms of Jesus in the early morning of November 12, 2024. He drifted away from this world hearing one of his favorite sounds: the sound of his daughter’s voice, singing to him the Aaronic blessing.
Phil was born to Fred and Norma Fandrei on September 23, 1933 in Hammond, Indiana. His favorite childhood memories involved playing sports and fly fishing. He continued to enjoy fishing as his favorite hobby throughout his life; his grandson, Patrick, refers to his grandfather as “the best fisherman in Minnesota.”
Phil served in the United States Air Force from 1953-1955. During this time, he met and married Margaret Whiting. They had two children, Sandra Lynn and James Douglas. Wendy Lynn joined their family in 1968. Margaret and Phil’s marriage ended in divorce in 1978.
In the 1930’s Phil’s father, Fred Fandrei, invented and trademarked a revolutionary product that could bring second chances to old, dilapidated motors. Sea Foam was trademarked in 1943, and his father sold Sea Foam as a hobby. In 1980, Phil purchased the company from his father. Phil’s impactful sales approach of giving live demonstrations on old motors was ground-breaking at the time.
Phil met LaVerne Juncewski at a Bible study in 1981, and they married on October 2, 1982. As the Sea Foam business grew, they found opportunities to share the Gospel message. Phil’s reverberant, booming tenor voice was never shy about His faith: he blessed others through song, testimony and prayers. He regularly shared, “May God Bless and keep you always and in all ways!” Phil and LaVerne shared their gifts of ardent prayers, time, and resources with others, unabashedly proclaiming that any gifts were from God alone: “To God be the glory for the things He has done!” Phil and LaVerne recognized the growth of Sea Foam as a blessing from God, and he mentored other entrepreneurs to have a firm foundation with Jesus Christ as the center. Phil and LaVerne’s commitment to Christian benevolence has inspired and touched innumerable lives. Today, the Sea Foam company is one of the best-selling fuel additives in the world, and the company continues to be dedicated to Christian charitable causes locally and abroad.
As we mourn the loss of a gregarious, philanthropic, gifted, and loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, mentor, and dear friend, we are comforted by God’s reassurance that this life is not the end; we will rejoice together in Heaven someday. Phil’s favorite Bible verse was John 3:16, and he proclaimed, testified, and invited all to remember: “God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will have eternal life.”
Phil was preceded in death by his parents, Frederick and Norma Fandrei and his sister, Marilyn Blakeslee.
Phil was survived by his wife of 42 years, LaVerne (Juncewski); his daughter, Sandy (Neal) Howard; his son, James (Vickie) Fandrei, and Wendy Lynn Krantz; his nephew, Steven (Nancy) Blakeslee; 8 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren. Additionally, there are many extended family members, including special friends and adopted grandchildren who have been mesmerized, inspired, and who will continue to be a testament to Phil’s legacy.
In lieu of flowers and in Phil’s spirit of giving, the family requests that you consider giving from your heart and not for any recognition to: Health Partners Hospice, City Life Center, Presbyterian Homes of Bloomington, Emmaus Free Lutheran Church, or to your local shelters and food banks.
Funeral Service
Friday, November 22, 2024
11:00 AM
Visitation one hour prior.
Emmaus Free Lutheran Church
8443 Second Avenue South
Bloomington, MN 55420
Even though our marriage of 26 years ended in divorce I have many happy memories with Phil Many family fishing vacations in Minnesota church socials at Windsor Heights Lutheran church and especially spending time with our children Sandy Jim and Wendy May peace be with you Phil You were special Love and peace from Margo (Margaret Whiting)
Dear Family and Friends of Phil Fandrei
I am deeply sorry for your loss, but find comfort in knowing Phil is now in the presence of our Lord, basking in the eternal brightness of God’s Glory.
Phil was a wonderful person with a generous spirit and unshakable faith.
His voice was powerful and beautiful as he often sang “How Great Thou Art”, with passion and reverence. Phil’s voice will forever echo in our hearts as a testament of his love for God. Phil’s life was a beautiful reflection of grace, love and goodness of God.
May memories of his life continue to inspire and uplift you.
With deepest sympathy and love,
Dear LaVerne, Sandy, James, Wendy and families,
May the peace of God encompass all of you with memories of a great example of what it means to be a man of God and a Christian person in this world. We had the opportunity to know your husband and father, great grandfather, uncle and friend for a brief period of time and felt like we had known him forever. He had a way of making all those around him feel as though they were his best friends for life and always shared his faith and joy of singing whenever possible. He made you want to know more about what generated his joy and never shied away from sharing his love for his Lord Jesus Christ. He knew full well that among believers in Jesus Christ that there are no final good-byes and that we will all be sharing in the eternal Feast of the Lamb when we are called home. Our prayer for all of you is that the wonderful memories Phil created with each of you will comfort and consol you during this time of grief and remembrance. We look forward to spending much more time with all of you in the millennium and beyond.
Dear family and friends (of whom I count myself one) of Phil,
I came to know Phil as we served together for a number of years on the President’s Council at Concordia University, St. Paul. As I read in the obituary, “May God Bless and keep you always and in all ways!,” I could hear Phil’s deep voice. I also remember so clearly a particular meeting when a topic that we had been discussing for quite some time, came up once again at that meeting. Phil strongly urged us to stop talking and take action. And we did. I think that typifies Phil’s life – whether it was his business or the Lord’s business.
Blessings,
We at American Bible Society pause to express our sincere condolences to the family and our hearts of gratitude for the life of Phil Fandrei.
We are praying for your comfort and peace. His life was a blessing to many millions of people all over the world!
Phil was a truly exceptional man! I was blessed to have him enter my life in April of 1996. He was more than a wonderful friend and mentor. I have so many fond memories. He taught me so many things both personally and professionally. He was kind and patient and always made time to listen. I am a better person for having had him in my life. Heaven has gained a true angel!!! Until we meet again, Charlene Bigger
Dear family and friends of Phil,
As a staff member of Vibrant Faith Ministries, I have fond memories of Phil and his deep desire to help people know and follow Jesus. He was filled with passion, modeled a generous spirit, and taught me several things about life and fishing, particularly when we had a retreat at Paul Hill’s lake home. He shaped many people’s live, including mine. I’m forever grateful for his presence in my life.
How do you describe Phil. Worshipful, generous, father, grandfather, husband, friend. Though when I think of Phil I think of him slinging a silver spoon out shoreward and then with a shout hooking a big pike. He knew how to keep his lure in the water, and it was rare that anyone out fished him.
I thought I was really going to beat him one day with a huge fish that just wouldn’t come in but would slowly run one side, and then another and was just really heavy. He kept telling me to get that fish in but it just took his time. Then when I finally got it to the boat and Phil was reaching to net it, we both saw that it was a log. Boy did he give me some ribbing after that and any fish hooked was in doubt, especially after I had another big one that turned into being a little one surrounded by 10 pounds of weed, Phil was in doubt that there was even a fish at all!
Loved fishing with Phil but more his passion to see people reached with the Gospel, and to know Christ. His generous giving meant that millions of people received Audio Bibles in their mother tongue. Between him and Mark, Seafoam was very profitable, and Phil was given the honor of giving much of the profit away, with Faith Comes By Hearing being a major recipient of Phil’s generosity.
Phil and my birthdays were only a few days apart and we often celebrated them together in Albuquerque as we celebrated people hearing God’s Word. What fun!
Phil’s voice is one I know well as he sent me a recording of his singing some of the classic hymns, and what a pleasure to hear him worship. Now he gets to do it in a new body and with a heavenly choir. My brother, your rest and reward are well deserved!