Ronald E. Rosenau

Obituary

Ronald Emil Rosenau was born on March 10, 1937, in Redwood County. He was the son of Emil and Florence (Dommer) Rosenau. Ronald was baptized as an infant and was later confirmed in his faith as a youth. He attended country school with his brother, Vern from 1st to 6th grade and eventually St. Paul’s Lutheran School in New Ulm for 7th and 8th grade.

Ronald entered active military service in the United States Army on November 23, 1954, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and served his country in Bordeaux, France from 1954 to 1957. He received an Honorable Discharge on November 19, 1957, at Fort Sheridan, Illinois, and achieved the rank of SP3 (T).

On August 13, 1961, Ronald was united in marriage to Violet Rieke at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Fairfax, Minnesota. This marriage was blessed with two children, James and Judy. Ronald and Violet shared 59 years of marriage.

Ron worked as a farm laborer for Orville Seifert, then for Bloedel Monument Company. He also did rock crushing along with cutting and hauling scrap metals for many years. Ron also worked at the Standard Oil Gas Station. After he married Violet, they started dairy farming by Fairfax, first by Mud Lake then northwest of Fairfax. They moved by Cosmos, farmed for 12 years, and then sold out. Ron and Violet bought a farm site west of Cosmos where he proudly still lived. After farming, he worked for the Cosmos Elevator as a Truck Driver. He then bought his own truck and was in business for 27 years.

He was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Acoma, Minnesota, Creamery Board at Corvuso, and Beack-Thompson American Legion Post 126 of Cosmos, Minnesota.

He had many friends and clients; he knew everyone that ever shook his hand. Ron absolutely loved spending time with his family and friends. He also enjoyed his German heritage by the foods he loved and listening to music and singing along. Ronald read many western books and enjoyed watching movies. He loved to tell jokes and have a good laugh. He called and checked in on many family members and friends on his cell phone every day.

He will be dearly missed by all who knew him best. Ronald passed away on December 8, 2020, at Harmony River Living Center, at the age of 83 years.

Blessed be his memory.

Ronald is survived by his:
Wife, Violet Rosenau of Cosmos, MN;
Children, James Rosenau and his wife, Kelly, of Prescott Valley, Arizona;
Judy Berglund and her husband, Tony, of Watkins, MN;
Grandchildren, Alex, Keely, Albert, and Natalie;
Great-Grandchildren, Riley, Lauren, Wynnifred, and Ezra;
Special Family Friends, Kipp and Lynette Kleinschmidt and family;
Siblings, Carol Kiecker of Hector, MN,
Diane Christanson of Cosmos, MN,
Marilyn Alsleben and her husband, Arden, of Brownton, MN,
Gene Rosenau of New Ulm, MN
Emil Rosenau of New Ulm, MN,
Dennis Rosenau and his wife, Deb, of Atwater, MN;
Sisters-in-law, Jolene Rosenau of Winthrop, MN;
Lynette Rosenau of Lester Prairie, MN,
Barbara Rosenau of Stewart, MN;
Betty Rosenau of New Ulm, MN,
Irene Rieke of Hutchinson, MN;
Brother-in-law, Wesley Rieke of Hutchinson, MN;
Many nieces, nephews, other relatives, family, and friends.

Ronald is preceded in death by his Parents, Emil and Florence Rosenau; Brothers, Melvin Rosenau, David Rosenau, Larry Rosenau, and Vernie Rosenau; Father and Mother-in-law, Clarence and Mildred Rieke; Sisters-in-law, Dorothy Rieke, Alice Rosenau, Marlys Rosenau; Brother-in-law Gene Kiecker.