Alois Scheidel, M.D. (I ’55)

Dr. Alois McKeon Scheidel

Al Scheidel, 95, of Mankato, Minnesota died peacefully on August 3, 2022 at Laurels Street.

Al was born in Mankato in 1926 to Alois Gregory and Helen (McKeon) Scheidel. He graduated from Loyola High School and then the University of Minnesota, where he earned his medical degree in 1949 through the V-12 Navy College Training Program. He met Ruth Mary (Rudy) Forseth at college and they married on August 14, 1948 in Rudy’s hometown of Aberdeen, SD.

When Al finished his navy deployment, they settled in Mankato and raised their six children. He was a devoted doctor and practiced Internal Medicine for 35 years. He was a member of the American College of Physicians.

Al was a dedicated husband and father. He had a boundless curiosity about everything, especially anything to do with astronomy and science. Al had a great love of music that he passed on to his children. He loved classical, jazz, Broadway musicals, contemporary and folk music – he loved good music. He also appreciated the performing arts, and he and Rudy supported the Guthrie Theatre and Mankato State University’s Theatre and Dance program.

He loved the mountains out west where he and his family spent many happy vacations. He and Rudy were great travelers and settled into spending time each winter in Mazatlán, Mexico with a circle of friends and summers at the cabin on Lake Washington. Because of his great photography skills, it was all well-documented for sharing with his family.

Al was cheerful and always a great host until the end. He will be dearly missed, and we are forever grateful to have had him in our lives.

Al is survived by his children, Ann (Joe) Keenan, Mary (Brad) Nett, Catherine (Mark) Brumm, Elizabeth (Mark) Schramm, and Jane Scheidel; daughter-in-law, Teresa (Devney) Scheidel; fourteen grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren; many dearly loved nieces and nephews; sisters-in-law, Shirley Scheidel and Margaret Forseth; and brothers-in-law, Richard Plat and Fred Forseth.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Rudy; son, Mark; sister, Jean Plat; brother, John; and his parents.

Al’s family is planning a private celebration of his life. They would like to thank the staff at Laurels Street for the wonderful care they gave him.

“Thou knowest tis common: All that lives must die – Passing through nature to eternity.”
Shakespeare – Hamlet