Kalantari, Fred of Edina, passed away early Sunday, October 14 from complications following a fall and hip surgery. He was 85. Fred came to this country from Iran in 1955 to attend college in River Falls, Wisconsin. After college, he worked in the restaurant business for many years as busboy, waiter, Maitre'D and Food and Beverage Manager. He worked at the Country House in Wisconsin, the Copper Hearth, the Rosewood Room, Marriott Inn, and the Minneapolis Athletic Club. In 1982 he went to work for Jim Michael managing Whirltronics, a manufacturing company that makes lawnmower blades. Eventually he bought the company. In 1991, he built a new plant in Buffalo, Minnesota where it remains a family owned business to this day and is now run by his son-in-law, Steve Thul. Fred was a Champion Backgammon player and played in tournaments all over this country, Canada and Monte Carlo. He won many of them and was a force to be reckoned with. He loved to gamble and enjoyed playing craps in Las Vegas and Poker at Canterbury. Fred loved this country and was proud to be a citizen. He was kind and generous to his friends and family and had a ready smile for those who knew him. He loved nature and enjoyed watching the birds and feeding the squirrels and chipmunks. Fred is survived by Grace, his wife of 61 years; daughter Michelle Kalantari of Richfield, son Lawrence Kalantari of Venice, CA, daughter Jeanette (Steve) Thul of Eden Prairie, grandchildren Jason and Annie Thul, and Mackenzie and Connor Kalantari. Also survived by many nieces and nephews here and in Iran. He was proud of his family and considered them to be his greatest accomplishment. The family would like to thank the staff at English Rose Suites for the loving care they gave Fred over the last several months. A memorial gathering will be held from 1-3 PM with sharing at 2 PM followed by lunch at 3 PM at Washburn McReavy in Edina on Sunday, October 21, 2018. Private burial at Oak Hill Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to Second Harvest Food Shelves and the Animal Humane Society. 2harvest. org animalhumanesociety Washburn-McReavy.com Edina Chapel 952-920-3996 West 50th St. & Hwy 100

Published on October 21, 2018