Mingo led life of service 

Robert Mingo lived for many years with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), working to educate others about the disease. Mingo died earlier this year of complications of FSHD. He was 61 and lived in Fridley. 

Mingo’s love of animals let to a career as a veterinary technician. He enjoyed writing poetry and doing volunteer work, guided by a strong faith. 

He was diagnosed with FSHD in 2002, just months after getting married. He was a longtime volunteer with the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), sharing his story during telethons. He was the Minnesota recipient of the national MDA Robert Ross Personal Achievement Award in 2009. 

In 2001, after a tornado struck his childhood home area of North Minneapolis, Mingo was there handing out water. That led to a water ministry for the neighborhood. He won the Minnesota Council on Disability’s Emergency Preparedness Award in 2011 of Sanctuary Covenant Church and served as an usher and anywhere needed. 

He is survived by his wife Amy, and five siblings and their families. Private services have been held. A public celebration of life service is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, July 15 at River Park North, 101 83rd Ave. N., Brooklyn Park.