Jack Fitzgerald rented you what you needed

John (Jack) Fitzgerald of Shorewood, a rental store operator who once had three locations, kept his ear to the ground for new items to rent.

If homeowners or contractors needed a truck, a garden tiller, cement mixer, even a hand tool, he would usually have it.

Fitzgerald, 77, who for more than 40 years ran J & F Reddy Rents in St. Louis Park, died of cancer on May 1 in Edina.

"He was always the idea guy, and I helped him implement the ideas," said Brent Peterson of Carver, general manager of the St. Louis Park store, who went to work for Fitzgerald in the 1970s.

"He was always looking for things that no one else had to rent," said Peterson, Fitzgerald's son-in-law, married to his daughter, Maureen Fitzgerald.

Once, he rented planted pots that really had been meant to decorate his store. Another customer wanted to rent the fluorescent light fixtures right off his ceiling.

Some might have balked at that, but not Fitzgerald.

When a brand-new company needed a cash register quickly, Fitzgerald rented his. He used a cardboard box for a week, until the register was returned.

From then on, Fitzgerald kept a couple of registers on hand, usually renting them to folks having big garage sales.

He dispensed advice to customers who sought the wrong tool for the job.

"He kept the customers coming back," said Peterson.

In 1963, he and his uncle started two rental stores, among the first in the state. By the 1970s, they each went out on their own.

He also owned Minneapolis' Hiawatha Reddy Rents, now operated by a son.

His daughter, Rachel O'Brien of Victoria, is president of the St. Louis Park operation.

"He was always interested in learning more about equipment and what equipment was becoming popular," she said.

Longtime employee Brian Elling of Minneapolis said Fitzgerald was fair to customers and employees.

"He helped so many people by renting them the equipment needed to start their businesses," Elling said.

Fitzgerald graduated from Minneapolis' DeLaSalle High School in 1949 and was an active alum.

He served in the Army on Okinawa, Japan, during the Korean War.

In addition to his daughters Rachel and Maureen, he is survived by his wife of 52 years, Eileen, of Shorewood; son, Brian, of Eagan, and three grandchildren.