William E. Rodenz

William E.  Rodenz, 70, of Rochester, MN, died on Wednesday (November 24, 2021) of heart failure, at Seasons Hospice in Rochester, where he had been a resident for 2 days.

William Edward Rodenz was born September 25, 1951 to Earl and Vivian (Vrieze) Rodenz in Spring Valley, MN. He was raised in the Preston, MN area. Around the time of 4th grade he attended a Christian youth camp and accepted Christ as his personal Lord and Savior.  Attending and being involved in church was very important from this point on. Bill graduated from Preston H.S. in 1970, and enlisted in the United States Air Force serving until 1974. Following his discharge he served a year and a half in the United States National Guard.  He began attending Pillsbury Baptist Bible College in Owatonna,Mn in 1974, eventually graduating around 2003 due to health and family life. William was joined in marriage to Lynnelle B. De Kok on July 1, 1978 in Rochester MN.  They were blessed with two children and called them true gifts from God.  Bill often said that God controls life, not the doctors. Lynnelle was a homemaker and a teacher at various Christian schools and homeschooled their children.  William was a federal correctional officer for 20 years, the majority of his career, at the Federal Medical Center in Rochester, MN.  He also graduated with honors from the one year carpentry program at Rochester Community and Technical College. Bill was an active member of Good News Evangelical Free Church in Pine Island, Mn. He enjoyed taking the family hiking, fishing and four wheeling until health problems made these activities basically impossible.  He was a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, brother and son and will be deeply missed.

William is survived by his wife of 43 years, Lynnelle Rodenz of Rochester, Mn, son Nathaniel (Liz) Rodenz, their daughters, Beth, Jessa, Sophia and Clara of Nashwauk, Mn, daughter Jennelle (Brian) Berg and their daughter Dana of Rochester, MN. Sisters, Ruth Brett of Mabel, MN, Catherine (Paul) Hagen of Spring Grove, Mn, Anna (Dennis) Miller of Spring Valley, Mn, Marilyn (Lee Roy) Parks of Milton, Florida, Lucy (Jim) Crawford of Mabel, MN and sister-in-law, Judy Patten of Dexter, MN.  He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his parents Earl and Vivian (Vrieze) Rodenz, brothers, David Patten, Robert Rodenz, and Peter Rodenz. As well as several aunts and uncles.

The funeral service for William will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Wednesday(December 1, 2021) at Cornerstone Baptist Church in Pine Island,MN with Rev. Eric Johnson officiating. A time of visitation for family and friends will take place from 4  to 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday(November  30, 2021) at Cornerstone Baptist Church and 1 hr. prior to the service at the church on Wednesday morning. Burial with military graveside honors by the Stewartville American Legion Post 164 will follow in Hamilton Cemetery in rural Racine,MN. Arrangements are with Griffin-Gray F.H. in Stewartville. Condolences and memories of William are welcome at www.griffin-gray.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of William E. Rodenz, please visit our floral store.