Richard W. "Dick" Krekelberg
Age: 74
City: Saint Joseph, Minnesota
Born: 1932-08-18
Died: 2007-07-08
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Mass of Christian Burial will be on Friday, July 13, 2007 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in St. Joseph for Richard W. "Dick" Krekelberg, age 74 of St. Joseph who died Sunday, July 8, 2007 at his home. Reverend Joseph Feders, OSB will officiate. Burial with military honors will be in the parish cemetery in St. Joseph.
Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday and after 10:00 a.m. on Friday at the Daniel Funeral Home in St. Joseph. The St. Joseph American Legion Post #328 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #5773 will pray at 6:30 p.m. followed by parish prayers at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home in St. Joseph.
Richard W. "Dick" Krekelberg was born on August 18, 1932 in Dent, Minnesota to Charles and Kathryn (Menz) Krekelberg. He graduated from Perham High School in 1950. While growing up, Dick entered many talent contests, winning several "Cedric Adams" talent contests.
Dick began his military career by enlisting in the Army in March of 1953. He completed basic and advanced individual training and was transferred overseas to Maison Forte in France. He was trained as a radio operator, but served as both company clerk and motor sergeant. Dick married Bunny Bratton on March 7, 1956 in Laferti, France. They returned to the United States in April of 1957, where Dick continued to serve in various positions within the Army. He became a recruiter and served in the Minneapolis area before his transfer to St. Cloud, where he served until 1969.
Dick began his second career serving his country when he became a member of the Minnesota National Guard in 1973. He again was assigned as a recruiter, and served in that capacity until his retirement in December of 1986.
Dick will always be remembered for the many years he spent entertaining people in the Central Minnesota area. His love for country music began when he was 16, and never stopped. He performed with his first band while stationed overseas, performing at various army bases throughout Europe. Dick's bands included The Countrymen, and Dick and the King's Men. Dick became a solo performer in 1974, and continued playing throughout Central Minnesota until several years ago. Dick and Bunny provided foster care for 32 years. He was a member of the St. Joseph American Legion Post #328 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post #5773.
Dick and Bunny also owned and operated the Club Mesa in Sauk Rapids from 1969 until 1971, where Dick performed with some of country music's brightest stars, including Tammy Wynette, Jim Ed Brown, Susan Raye and Merle Travis. Dick and his band also appeared on many Grand Ole Opry shows in the 1960's.
Dick's "real" enjoyment in life came from his grandchildren. They were the light of his life, and they kept his spirits up throughout his illness.
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Dick is survived by his wife, Bunny; children, Carol (Don) Honer of St. Joseph, Trudi (Jim) Krekelberg of Avon, Nick of Blooming Prairie, Tom (Mary) of St. Joseph, Laura (Mark) Hemmesch of Richmond, Kurt (Ana) of St. Joseph and Trina (Glen) Faber of St. Joseph; 22 grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Eugene (Marlene) of Eveleth, Hank (Ann) of St. Louis Park, Don (Bonnie) of Plymouth, Mary (Jim) Klein of Clinton, Chuck (Pat) of Pelican Rapids, Pat (Wayne) Greenwood of Brooklyn Park, and Ken (Lynn) of Maple Grove; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Jerry.
Dick's family would like to thank the St. Cloud Hospital Hospice program for all of their help and support.
