Albert "Sonny" Rodenwald

Albert B. “Sonny” Rodenwald, age 84 of Albany, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 at his home in Albany, Minnesota. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 7 at Seven Dolors Catholic Church in Albany with Rev. Mark Stang officiating and Rev. Julius Beckermann, O.S.B. concelebrating. Entombment will be at the parish cemetery. 

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday and from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Tuesday at the Seven Dolors Gathering Area in Albany. Parish prayers will be at 4 p.m. followed by a rosary at 7 p.m. by the Knights of Columbus and Catholic United Financial.  

Albert Bernard Rodenwald was born December 5, 1938 in Albany, Minnesota to Alfred and Johanna (Renneker) Rodenwald.  He attended school in Albany, Minnesota.  He was united in marriage to Diane Tiemann on April 6, 1961 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Melrose, Minnesota. Sonny worked for D.H. Blattner Energy for 30 years in Avon, Minnesota and farmed the family farm in Albany until 1968. He worked on the Kaw Dam in Ponca City, Oklahoma from 1968 to 1970 before moving back to Albany for the remainder of his life.  He enjoyed farming and collecting antique tractors and farm equipment, especially IH-Farmall. He also enjoyed participating in tractor pull competitions.

Sonny was a life-long member of Seven Dolors Church in Albany, the Local 49, Knights of Columbus Father Pierz Council #3628, and Catholic United Financial #400.

Survivors include his wife, Diane Rodenwald of Albany; children, Brian Rodenwald of Deadwood, South Dakota, Deborah Smith of Burtrum, Terri Rodenwald of Kelly Lake, and Ross Rodenwald of Freeport; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; and siblings, Vonnie vonBrauchitsch of Granite Bay, California, Sharon Schmitt of Avon, Marlys Backes of Avon, Floyd Rodenwald of Albany and Linda Maples of Isle.

Sonny was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Johanna; infant grandson, Lucas Allen; brother-in-law, Dennis vonBrauchitsch; and sisters-in-law, Barbara Salzl, Cathy Koopmeiners, and Adeline Tiemann.