Al Annexstad Obituary – South Bend Tribune

Al Annexstad, age 82, of Tiger, Georgia, died peacefully on July 8, 2023 in the company of his high school sweetheart and soulmate, Catherine (Cathy) and loving family. It can easily be said that Al lived the quintessential American Dream, with an inspiring life story characterized by determination and generosity.

Al was born on September 17, 1940, the youngest of four children to Stanford J. Annexstad and Alice Westman, on a small dairy farm near St. Peter, Minnesota. When Al was only five, his father suffered a fatal heart attack. This event forever altered the trajectory of his life. Unable to keep the farm going, his mother sold it and moved the family in town.

Alice worked for over 45 years at Gustavus Adolphus College preparing and serving food to students and faculty. It was through her example of tenacity and determination that Al gleaned the values of hard work, self-reliance and a desire for higher education. From the age of ten, he worked to pay for most of his own expenses, delivering milk for a local dairy farm, shucking corn for area farmers and working alongside his mother in the cafeteria, mopping floors, washing dishes and clearing tables.

Upon graduating from Minnesota State University Mankato with a degree in social science and business, Al went to work at Federated Insurance Companies as a sales representative in his hometown after receiving his “tap on the shoulder” from a Federated sales manager. His tenacious work ethic combined with an uncanny business acumen quickly led to enormous success. Multiple promotions followed a career that would eventually span nearly 50 years, culminating in his appointment as the company’s Chief Executive Officer in 1999 and chairman a year later. He is credited with developing numerous strategies that led Federated from being a modestly successful regional company to a prominent national insurance organization.

Al notoriously advocated for individuals who grew from circumstances out of their control, to help change the trajectory of their lives. Al always remembered his humble beginnings and took every chance to pay forward his success. He was determined to offer as many “taps on the shoulder” to those who had limited resources or opportunities. While Al had an extraordinary business career, it is his life of philanthropy for which he will be most remembered. The Annexstad Family Foundation, which he and his wife, Cathy, founded in 2000 provides college scholarships to deserving young people who have overcome challenging circumstances in their young lives, has helped nearly 1,300 young people realize their dreams of higher education. Al believed that these students would one day become leaders, innovators, and drivers of social change. Around the country, Annexstad graduates are building accomplished lives of their own.

Al treasured the moments spent with family and friends. A pizza party enthusiast, Al took great pleasure in bringing people together, fostering lively conversation about sports and travel plans all while ensuring guests felt at home under his roof. As a Minnesota native, Al felt most at peace near the lake taking in sunrises and sunsets overlooking the water and on evening walks with Cathy. Al relished any opportunity to share special moments with his children and grandchildren and cherished summer days and nights at the family lake house.

Al received many recognitions for his contributions to youth mentoring, including Minnesota Business Partnership’s Lifetime Achievement Award (2005), Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Twin Cities highest honor, the Jim Kelly Distinguished Service Award (2006), and most notably in 2010, the Horatio Alger Award, one of America’s highest civilian honors, given in recognition of his inspiring life story. He was also inducted into Minnesota’s Business Hall of Fame. Al served on the Executive Committee of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans, was a member of the Board of Trustees at Gustavus Adolphus College and served on the Board of Governors at Eisenhower Medical Center Foundation in Rancho Mirage, California near their winter home. He was bestowed honorary doctorate degrees from Gustavus Adolphus College and his alma mater, Minnesota State University, only the third time such honors have been conferred in the 153-year history of the institution. The institution also recognized him with their highest honor of achievement, the Distinguished Alumnus Award.

Al is survived by his best friend, his beloved wife, Cathy; their son Tom (Karen); their daughter, Patti (Rich); as well as their grandchildren, Shane, Kaci (Vinnie), Morgan, Mackenzi, Blake and Maggie all of whom are dedicated to continue his legacy of philanthropy through the Foundation.

A private family service for Al Annexstad will be held in South Bend, Indiana. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Annexstad Family Foundation. For more information, please visit www.annexstadfamilyfoundation.org/contact-us/sharing-our-mission/.

To send online condolences, please visit www.kaniewski.com.