Robert L. Hens

Robert L. Hens, age 70 of Melrose, passed away peacefully surrounded by family, after a short battle with cancer, on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, September 23 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Rev. Mark Botzet officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Monday at the church.

Robert Hens was born on March 28, 1954 in Sauk Centre, Minnesota to Richard and Florentine (Michels) Hens. He was united in marriage to Joyce Hollenkamp on June 18, 1974 at St. Pius V in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Robert worked at Kraft and Land O’ Lakes in Melrose for 32 years. 

For Robert, family was everything. The home was always open for anyone at any time. Robert enjoyed spending time with his family, from the small gatherings to the special occasions, where there would be at least 20 or more people gathered at any given time. Many weekends were spent there, as the grandchildren would love to go to grandpa’s house where there was a four-wheeler ride for the younger kids or a game of dice or cards for the older children. Robert could fix anything, and we brought our projects and cars to him to fix or seek advice.

Robert is survived by his wife, Joyce; children, Angela Klasen, Mary (Jason) Lachermeier, Cynthia Adams, Amanda Tschida, John Hens (Jenni), Stephanie Hens (Codie), and Thomas (Ali) Hens; grandchildren, Alisha, Eric, Shannon, Nicholas, Jamie, Krista, Jenna, Logan, Brianna, Kaine, Dylan, Paige, Alexis, Katlynn, Brandon, Gabrielle, Kyle, Mira, Nadia, Ivan, Oliver, and Brinley; great-grandchild, Ava; brothers and sisters, Dale Hens, Diane Hens (Kevin), and Karen (Ron) Altendahl; and brother and sister-in-law, Gene and Theresa Hollenkamp.

Robert was preceded in death by Heavenly Baby, his parents, Richard and Florentine; father and mother-in-law, LuVerne and Lucille Hollenkamp; sister-in-law, "Nitch".

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.