Elmer Hinnenkamp

Elmer B. Hinnenkamp, 80, of Melrose died suddenly Friday, December 31, 2004 at the Melrose Area Hospital.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, January 4, 2005 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Vince Lieser officiating.

Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Monday and from 8 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home, Melrose. Parish prayers will be at 7:30 p.m. followed by St. Bernard's Catholic Aid Society at 8:30 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Elmer Hinnenkamp was born February 2, 1924 in Melrose, Minnesota to Joseph and Elizabeth (Dickhaus) Hinnenkamp. He married Rose M. Blenker on Aug. 24, 1948 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Melrose. They lived in Melrose where he was employed by Budde Dray Line and Munson Feed. In 1959 they started farming in Millwood Township, Stearns County until retiring in 1988 and moving back to town. Elmer was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and St. Bernard's Society. He enjoyed going out to the farm and helping with the fieldwork, going to his kid's homes and helping fix and repair things, bowling, snowmobiling, and caring for the grandkids and their pets.

Survivors include his wife, Rose M. Hinnenkamp of Melrose; children, Sharon Kays of North Branch, Marvin Hinnenkamp (Vickie) of Grey Eagle, Darrell Hinnenkamp (Suzette) of Melrose, Renee Botner of Fergus Falls, Glenn Hinnenkamp (Vicki) of Melrose; 9 grandchildren, Brent and Chad Kays, Heather and Ashley Hinnenkamp, Jacob and Cody Hinnenkamp, Danna and Justine Botner, and Olivia Hinnenkamp; brothers and sisters, Sally Hinnenkamp, Viola Frieler, Luverne Hinnenkamp (Barbara Jean), and sister-in-law, Marcella Hinnenkamp, all of Melrose.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Elizabeth Hinnenkamp; step-mother, Alma (Loecken) Hinnenkamp; brother, Alfred Hinnenkamp; daughter-in-law, Jelene (Schreifels) Hinnenkamp; son-in-law, Brad Botner, and brother-in-law, Lawrence Frieler.

Casket bearers will be Marvin, Darrell and Glenn Hinnenkamp, Daniel Frieler, Roger Blenker and Brent Kays. Honorary bearers will be Richard and Alphonse Hiltner, Joe Soenneker, Ed Zenzen, Richard Oevermann, Elmer Muellner, Alcuin Renneker, Peter Terres, Sr., Donald Manthei, Wayne Zenzen and Richard Dickhaus. Cross bearer will be Olivia Hinnenkamp. Scripture bearer will be Chad Kays.

Memorials are preferred to the American Diabetes Association.