Daniel Hinnenkamp

Daniel J.B. Hinnenkamp, age 22 of Saint Cloud and formerly of Sauk Centre, died unexpectedly Friday, November 18, 2016 at his Saint Cloud, Minnesota residence.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, November 23rd at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Greg Paffel presiding. Inurnment will be in Calvary Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday at Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. Parish prayers will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

Daniel John Briggs Hinnenkamp was born on February 23, 1994 in Little Falls, Minnesota. From the moment Danny came into this world, his life was filled with chaos. As an infant, Danny's birth mom loved him with her whole heart but struggled to care for him. Soon, he was placed into the foster care system. In January 1998, we received a call from Stearns County Social Services asking if there would be room in our home to take in a little boy who was almost 4 years old. As many of you know, our family is a blended family of a childless couple, and five amazing adopted sons. John and I have always tried to include our children in what effects our family. We gathered around our dining room table to discuss whether we had room for this little boy. Without hesitation, all four of our boys said "Yes." We called back and told the county that we would love to have Daniel come and live with us. Upon his arrival, I opened the door to our home and found the most beautiful boy standing. We could see in his scared, sad eyes that he was searching for somewhere to call home. We immediately grew to love him. July 16, 2001 was a special day not only for Danny, but for our whole family, it was adoption day. For it was the day we became a complete family. Danny was so kind and empathic to everyone around him. Growing up, he faced many challenges and had many hard knock lessons to learn but he grew into a young man who found the good in those around him. He loved to fill his head with knowledge from great minds such as Albert Einstein, Buddha, and Jesus Christ. He learned to cope with the world around him through meditation and music. He wanted to make the world a better place by writing songs and playing music that would get those around him to think outside of the boxes they built around themselves. He believed that when words fail, music speaks. He had an amazing sense of humor and could fill a room with laughter. Just being around him made you smile. He could be very determined once he set his mind on something and went to great lengths to achieve it. He enjoyed hanging out at the rock quarries and being part of the nature that surrounded him. We do not know what darkness entered his world to cause him to feel this was the only solution to calm the pain that he was feeling. In our hearts, Danny's pain is over and he is cradled in God's loving arms. -- Mom and Dad

A message from his brothers, Cody, Chris, Kenny and Sawyer - "Our brother, our friend, an idol and mentor. We wished we had more time to listen to his words. Daniel, you had a beautiful soul, the mind of an artist, so creative yet so extremely factual. The most single intelligent person we have had the privilege to know. A good soul, a big heart, a wonderful young man. We will forever cherish our lifetime of memories as will all who loved him."

Survivors include his parents, John and Linda Hinnenkamp of Sauk Centre; brothers, Cody Hinnenkamp of McAllister, OK, Christopher Hinnenkamp of TX, Kenneth Hinnenkamp of Sauk Centre, and Sawyer Hinnenkamp of Sauk Centre; two nephews; one niece; grandmother, Mary Jennissen of Sauk Centre; uncles and aunts, Ron Jennissen of Holme City, Deb (Bill) Britz of Sauk Centre, Kathy (Rusty) Rohde of Sauk Centre, Sandy (Bucky) Blank of Sauk Centre, Diana (Troy) Kiecker of Big Lake, Jay (Paul) Robischon of Sauk Centre, Joseph (Darlyne) Hinnenkamp of Eagle Bend, Leander (Betty) Hinnenkamp of Fridley, Caroline Haider of Calio, ND, Helen Brake of Ward Springs, Elizabeth (Ben) Escher of Melrose, Rose Lyn (Jerry) Worrel of North St. Paul, and Leon (Patti Jo) Hinnenkamp of Annandale; as well as many cousins and friends.

Daniel was preceded in death by his grandparents, Roman Jennissen, Leo and Loretta Hinnenkamp; and uncles, Daniel Hinnenkamp, John Brake, and Charles Haider.