Randolph Schwinghammer

Randolph E. "Randy" Schwinghammer, age 63 of Grey Eagle, died suddenly on Saturday, July 30, 2016 at the CentraCare Health Hospital in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, August 4 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Grey Eagle with Rev. Ron Dockendorf officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday at the church in Grey Eagle. Parish prayers will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the church.

Randolph Eugene Schwinghammer was born December 23, 1952 in St. Cloud, Minnesota to Val and Estelle (Thelen) Schwinghammer. Randy graduated from Albany High School in 1971 and pursued his life adventure. Randy rode his motorcycle to Oregon and lived there for two years. He returned to the area and married Anita Salzl on May 10, 1975 at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in St. Rosa. They have been inseparable ever since. The couple lived in Albany and purchased a farm in 1975 and moved southeast of Grey Eagle in 1976. This is where they established their dairy farm and have since raised their family.

Randy had many interests. He loved farming, hunting, especially elk hunting with his son in Colorado, fishing, kayaking, sailing, cross country skiing, canoeing, riding his Harley, and scuba diving. Most recently, Randy was in the process of getting his pilot's license to fly the skies. Randy's passion, however, was music. He played guitar and belonged to the Kodiak Band for 32 years. He truly loved watching people enjoy the music he was playing. He loved spending time with his family and his friends, especially his grandchildren. They were so precious to him and were the love of his life. Randy will be missed by many.

Survivors include his wife of 41 years, Anita Schwinghammer of Grey Eagle; children, Amanda (Randy) Hartung of Freeport and Jeremiah (Nicole) Schwinghammer of Monument, Colorado; grandchildren, Trevin, Abraham, Ethan, and Marissa Hartung, and Layton Schwinghammer; parents, Val and Estelle Schwinghammer of Avon; brothers and sisters, Sherry Friedrichs of St. Louis Park, Judy (Mark) Gileczek of Bloomington, Connie Larson of Cedar, Jackie (Ed) Atkinson of Freeport; and Larry (Shelly) Schwinghammer of Albany; and many nieces and nephews.

Randy was preceded in death by his grandparents; father-in-law, Sylvester Salzl; and brother-in-law, John Ronallo.

Serving as casket bearers will be Amanda Hartung, Randy Hartung, Jeremiah Schwinghammer, Nicole Schwinghammer, Trevin Hartung, and Abraham Hartung. Cross bearer will be Marissa Hartung, scripture bearer will be Ethan Hartung, and flower bearer will be Layton Schwinghammer. Lectors will be Sherry Friedrichs and Judy Gileczek and the petitions will be read by Jackie Atkinson. Gift bearers will be Rowen Salzl, Travis Atkinson, and Noah Salzl.