Alcuin Renneker

Alcuin J. Renneker, age 79 of Melrose, died Monday, April 9, 2018 at the CentraCare Health Nursing Home in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Thursday, April 12 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport with Rev. Gabriel Walz officiating. Interment will be at St. Mary's Cemetery in Melrose.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose and from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the church in Freeport. Parish prayers will be held at 5 p.m. followed by the Knights of Columbus and the St. Rosa Lions Club at 7 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Alcuin John Renneker was born June 21, 1938 in Millwood Township, Stearns County, Minnesota to Bernard and Rose (Beste) Renneker. He attended St. Boniface School through the eighth grade and graduated from Melrose High School. Alcuin worked for Willmar Produce which is now Jennie-O Turkey Store. He took over the family farm and met Loretta Dullinger at Holdingford Fun Days. The couple was married on September 24, 1959 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Holdingford. They farmed and raised their family on the farm. After retirement, Alcuin and Loretta moved to the Zitur farm two miles down the road while Julie and Jerry took over their farm. Alcuin then worked at Master Mark in Albany.

He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose, St. Rosa Lions Club, Queen of Peace General Assembly, Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, and the Pioneer Club. Alcuin enjoyed collecting tractors, hunting, playing cards, and loved woodworking. All of the children received a cedar chest that Alcuin made.

Survivors include his loving wife of 58 years, Loretta Renneker of Melrose; children, Joan (Mike) Gerads of Freeport, Jim Renneker, Julie (Jerry) Gerads of Melrose, Jean Kidrowski of Willmar, Jeanette (Tom) Gerads of Freeport, Jill (Ray) Kurowski of Long Prairie, Janice Renneker Zarbok of Holdingford, and Jodi (Doug) Johnson of Long Prairie; 27 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren; and sisters, Marcella Wochnik of Waite Park and Kathy (Joe) Herdering of Freeport.

Alcuin was preceded in death by his parents; infant daughter, Mary Renneker; sisters and brothers-in-law, Bernice and Celestine Fischbach, Joyce and Franky Boeckermann, and Juanita and Daniel Schlangen; brother-in-law, Leroy Wochnik; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Groff and Marlene and John Richards; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.