Norbert Renneker

Norbert H. "Norb" Renneker, age 93 of Freeport, died peacefully on Wednesday, December 17, 2014 at the CentraCare Health Hospital in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 a.m. Monday, December 22 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport with Rev. Roger Klassen, O.S.B. officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery with military honors by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport. Goldenaires Senior Citizens and the St. Joseph's Men's Society will pray at 4 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 5 p.m., Freeport Fire Department at 6 p.m., and the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard at 7 p.m. Sunday evening at the church.

Norbert Herman Renneker was born March 28, 1921 in Melrose, Minnesota to Bernard and Magdalena (Koch) Renneker. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was united in marriage to Adelle Steinemann on June 24, 1947 at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Melrose. Norb was the owner and operator of Renneker's Garage then worked road construction for McGarry's Brother Road Construction Company. He later worked at Albany Mutual Telephone Company until his retirement. After retirement, he worked part-time into his 80's at Hiltner's Company Inc. in Freeport.

He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Freeport, St. Joseph's Men's Society, American Legion Unit 101 and was a charter member of the Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050 and was on the drill team as well. Norb was also a member of the Freeport Fire Department and the Freeport Sportsmen Club.

Norb enjoyed bowling, softball, fishing, hunting, traveling, building and repairing grandfather clocks and furniture. In his early 90's, he began painting wild life portraits and enjoyed his time with his family and friends.

Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Adelle Renneker of Freeport; children, Mike (Jean) Renneker of Freeport and Mary Beth (Marv) Denne of Monticello; 10 grandchildren, Rhonda Salmi, Russell (Jessica) Renneker, Dana (Chad) Simons, Alison (Roger) Green, Lindsay (Justin) Kahnert, Brandon (Megan) Denne, Jake Renneker, Erin Denne, Josh Renneker, and Ryan Denne; and15 great-grandchildren.

Norb was preceded in death by his parents; sons, Ronald Renneker and Thomas Renneker; brothers, Ben Renneker Jr., John Renneker, and Joseph Renneker, sisters; Mary Wiewel, Frances Stueve, Johanna Rodenwald, Agnes Neumann, and Elizabeth Rodenwald.

Serving as casket bearers will be Josh Renneker, Jake Renneker, Russ Renneker, Erin Denne, Brandon Denne, and Ryan Denne. Cross bearer will be Dana Simons and scripture bearer will be Harry Kerfeld. Gift bearers will be Jean Renneker and Marv Denne. Eucharistic Minister will be Jean Zwilling. Eulogy will be by Don Kerfeld.