Service Information
Former State Sanator Earl W. Renneke, age 92, of Le Sueur, husband of Marjorie, passed away Wednesday, March 3, 2021, at Ridgeview Le Sueur Nursing Home and Rehab Center in Le Sueur.
Funeral Service will be Saturday, March 13, 2021, 2:00 P.M. at Scandian Grove Lutheran Church in Norseland with interment in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be one hour prior (1:00-2:00 P.M.) on Saturday at the church.
Memorials can be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, 32234 431 Ave., Gaylord, MN 55334, Scandian Grove Lutheran Church, 42869 Co. Rd. 52, St. Peter, MN 56082, or Comfort Residence - Le Sueur, 105 Plum Run, Le Sueur, MN 56058.
Masks are required and social distancing guidelines will be followed.
Obituary
Former State Senator Earl Wallace Renneke of Rush River passed away on March 3rd, 2021 in the presence of his wife, daughters and grandchildren in Le Sueur at the age of 92. He married his high school sweetheart, Marjorie Eckberg, in 1951, and would have celebrated their seventieth wedding anniversary together with her this coming summer.
As a young man, he attended the District 53 Country School, Gaylord High School and Studied at the University of Minnesota in the V-12 Training Program after which he returned to Rush River to farm. In 1969 he was elected to serve his fellow citizens as State Senator and was a member of the Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus, later the Independent Republican Party. He would be re-elected eleven times by his constituents over the course of his service, and retired from office following the 77th Legislative Session in 1992 having represented citizens in Blue Earth, Carver, Le Sueur, McLeod, Nicollet, Scott, and Sibley Counties. His special legislative concerns were agriculture, natural resources, corrections and education. He supported vocational schools, offering promising opportunities for young Minnesotans outside of the college track, and was known for setting aside party politics to work for the benefit of all his constituents. He worked in a bipartisan effort to gain opportunities for people with special needs. After his time in the Minnesota State Legislature he served for over two decades on the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources. He trusted in the good in people.
Aside from his service on the state level, Earl belonged to, and was an active member of the communities of Norseland, Rush River and the surrounding towns. He was a product of his Norwegian - German parents, baptized at the Norwegian founded Norseland Lutheran Church, confirmed at the German founded Trinity Lutheran Church, and attending the Swedish founded Scandian Grove Evangelical Lutheran Church. He was a member of the Sibley County Farm Bureau, Sibley and Nicollet County Historical Societies, Joseph R. Brown Board, Ney Center Board, Pioneer Power Association, Midland Co-op Le Sueur Board, Sibley-County Fair Association Board, and Scandian Grove Church Council. Earl was a co-founder of the Rush River Rushers 4-H Club and its first president. He was a good athlete, holding the mile record at the Gaylord High School for many years and enjoyed playing center field in Rush River’s baseball team.
While Earl was remembered by many for his public service, he is remembered most of all by his family for the great, unconditional love he gave them as a deeply caring husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Whether it was building hay bale forts and tire swings for his daughters, and later grandchildren, in the barn and on the farm, helping all of them learn to ride horses, or to carve P-51 Mustangs, attending countless concerts, games, meets, plays, fairs, recitals, graduations, birthdays, or weddings, Earl and Marjorie were always there. He enjoyed helping his son-in-law, Don Wiest, with the field work, harvesting corn until the age of 87, and plowing the fields with a moldboard plow until he was 89. He baled hay with his grandchildren on the hottest of summer days, never forgetting his 1/2 gallon Coleman water jug, filled with ice-cold water to share. Regardless of what life demanded, his family came first. Earl always made time for that.
Those who knew him also knew his unfading sense of humor. Every one of his daughters and grandchildren recall him explaining his early balding as having been due to a horse biting off the hair on the top of his head. He once asked a waiter at a restaurant if he had a hard time catching the fish he had ordered. He also enjoyed telling excited people to keep their shirts on and referred to them afterward as Ole, or Butch. He was innately curious with a passion for reading, history, sports, airplane models and teaching. He was one of few people that could take part in a great discussion by asking more questions than stating his own opinions. He enjoyed listening to polka cassette tapes from Whoopee John Wilfahrt and the Six Fat Dutchmen. Earl was a hard-working farmer, proud of his country, grounded in his faith, and most of all, a good person.
Earl is survived by his:
wife, Marjorie;
brother, Wyman;
brothers-in-law, Garfield Eckberg and Richard Larson;
sister-in-law, Beatrice Renneke;
children, Rochelle (Pat Hamilton) Renneke, Lynnette (Don Wiest) Renneke-Wiest, Kristin (Ron Morrill) Renneke Morrill;
grandchildren, Kathryn (Sam) Kjellesvig, Elizabeth (Adam) Hahn, Trevor J. Renneke Wiest, Daniel Morrill, Jordan P. Renneke (Carina) Wiest, Steven Morrill;
great-grandchildren, Stephanie, Alicia and Hailey Hahn, and Colton Morrill.
Earl is preceded in death by his parents, John and Olga Renneke, siblings, Davis (Mayme) Renneke, Douglas Renneke (in infancy), Clella (Ray) Franke, Harry Renneke, James Renneke, sisters-in-law, Flora Renneke, Marjorie Eckberg, and Marilyn Larson.
Letty betnhagen says
Marjorie snd family,
I’m in Costa Rica and just saw that Earl passed away. Haven’t been in touch for a long time but recall memories from long ago when our husbands were Senators together. You have my condolences. Letty Bernhagen
Kristin Morrill says
Thank you, Letty, for your kind words! Dad had fond memories from his years in the Senate.. He enjoyed working with John. God Bless You…
Lynnette says
“Thank you Letty for your kind words and thoughts! So good to hear from you. We have fond memories of you and John!
Take care,
Marjorie “
Dear Letty,
Thank you Letty for being in touch! We all have fond memories of you and John! And your mutual sense of humor!
Take care,
Lynnette
Marigale Prokop says
Senator Renneke was such a joy to work with. As his legislative assistant we shared a special bond for his legislation and constituents. We have not spoken in years, but he is remembered fondly. My sincere condolences to his family and friends.
Kristin Morrill says
Oh, Marigale, thank you! So wonderful to hear from you. We miss our Dad so much! Hope you are well. God Bless You!
Lynnette says
Thank you so much Marigale for your kind words and sharing memories!
Take care,
Lynnette
Monica Renneke says
Sending our deepest condolences and love to Aunt Marjorie, Lynnette, Kristin, their children and all who loved Uncle Earl. Wyman, my father, sends his love. I know Uncle Earl well from the many great things my father, his brother Wyman, shared with me. Even though I live way down in Atlanta, and I did not spend much time in Minnesota, I feel a loss and sadness in my space. Our family and their legacy touches us all, even when they are far across our great country. I see Uncle Earl’s likeness in my father’s face, and will always remember him. I’m grateful for his legacy and the positive wake left on this earth by him. We are all blessed by his life.
Love and best wishes from Wyman and Monica Renneke ?
Kristin Morrill says
You are so sweet, Monica. Thank you. Sending hugs your way!
Lynnette says
Dear Monica and Wyman,
Thank you so much for your message Monica! Sending Hugs to you, Uncle Wyman and your brothers and family. Distance is hard at times like this. We’ll keep you all in our thoughts too!
Take care,
Love,
Lynnette
Joanne Graff says
My sympathy to your entire family. My husband had spoken highly of him (if I’m not mistaken I believe he saw him frequently at Holiday?). My thoughts are with you girls, your mother and your families. God bless.
Lynnette says
Thank you so much Joanne!
Fun to hear the memories of Dad.
Take care,
Lynnette
Roger Guenette says
Lynnette, I am sorry for your loss. I worked with you years ago at Region 9. Your father was a voice of enlightenment and fairness. The world needs more people like him. Sincerely, Roger Guenette
Lynnette says
Oh Roger, so good to hear from you! Thank you so much for your kind words and for sharing your impressions of Dad. So true!
Take care,
Lynnette
Brock (Badger) Flowers says
While I only met my Great Grand Uncle Earl a few times, I found him to be extremely nice and could not believe how much he had followed my brothers and I during our high school sports. My mother (Roxanne Buesing-Flowers) spoke with nothing but kindness for Earl and we are all thinking of his wife, children, and grandchildren and great grandchildren during this time.
Lynnette says
Thank you so much Brock. Dad enjoyed following your and your siblings sports! Take care and hugs to your entire family!
Take care,
Lynnette
Dana Melius says
God’s peace to a grand man.
Lynnette says
Thank you So much Dana.
Take care,
Lynnette
Lexi Prahl says
So sorry to hear about your family’s loss. It was great treat as a child to see his jeep and his smile behind the wheel on Cty Rd 8! Warm regards, prayers and thoughts to you all as you remember a great man, husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather.
Lynnette says
Thank you for your kind words Lexi!
Take care,
Lynnette
Merry Beckmann says
So sorry for your loss…Earl would never remember me now and his family will have no idea who I am, but in the 1990s, I was a lobbyist for the Association of Minnesota Counties. In the 90s, the work was actually fun and productive, and Earl was one of the best to make things “work”. Our Association always appreciated him for his honesty and hard work. You are lucky his was a great husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and all the others. The state was luckier yet, to have Earl occupy one of the seats in the chamber. Rest in peace dear Earl.
Lynnette says
Thank you Thank you Merry, for sharing your memories! Your kind and positive words about Dad are so true!
Take care,
Lynnette
Marjorie Ryan says
I saw that Representative Renneke had passed and many memories of his support and kindness to me during the year I served as Sibley County queen from 1969-70 came back to me. The interesting and personal obituary told the story of his accomplished life and I’m sure he will he missed by many. I am sorry for your loss but know your memories of him will bring you much peace and joy.
Marjorie Ryan ( Vossen)
Lynnette says
Oh Marjorie Thank you! That’s right, the Sibley County Queen Contest was one of Dad’s roles as a Fair Board member. I remember all the parades we went and how gracious you were in your role as Sibley County Queen!
Take care,
Lynnette
Alan Horner says
Hello Lynnette
I just read of your father’s passing and am sending my condolences. I’ve recently lost mine as well. I guess we’ve reached that time of life . So glad to hear that you’ve had a happy and successful life and have though of you often since the summer of 72 I’m the Canadian kid you met on a 4H exchange
Lynnette says
Alan Hello,
Just saw your message now. Thank you for your kind words. And my condolences to you as well. Even knowing that this will happen sometime, it seems that we are not ready for them to pass on. I’ve thought of you over the years as well. Hope life has been good to you! Stay well,
Lynnette
Alan+Horner says
Hello Lynette
I’m thrilled to hear from you after all these years and am fascinated to learn about your career in aviation as I held a commercial pilots licence with IFR and multi engine endorsement at one time I spent a few years as an ag pilot years back but somehow was called back to the farming business .
Strange how our lives would have turned out to have this in common !
Hope to hear from you again. My email is horner.ranch@gmail.com
All the best
Alan