Robert Krenelka

Robert E. Krenelka, age 90, of Staples, passed away at the Lakewood Health Care Center on Sunday evening. A funeral service is planned for Thursday April 13, at 11:00 AM at Faith Lutheran Church with Rev. Stephen Sveom officiating. There will be a visitation Wednesday evening from 5-7 at the Brenny Funeral Home in Staples with a Prayer Service at 5 and a Masonic Ceremony at 6:30. Burial will take place at the Salem Lutheran Cemetery in Hitterdal, MN. He was born August 20, 1915 in Hitterdal, MN to Alden A. and Ella (Christensen) Krenelka. He attended school at Hitterdal and graduated from high school in 1933. At the time of his graduation the Depression was in full swing in the United States and jobs were hard to come by so he ended up taking odd jobs as they became available mostly in the area of farm labor. He joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in about 1935 and remained with the Corps for about two years, part of which was spent at what now is Gooseberry State Park. On leaving the Corps he again returned to Hitterdal. The next couple of years were spent doing various types of work including farm labor, driving truck for a local hauler and working in a service station. He joined the National Guard in Moorhead, MN in October of 1940. The Guard was federally inducted in The AUS in February, 1941; and was moved to California where it was stationed at the outbreak of WWII. He was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in 1943 and served in Europe with the 489th AAA Bn. as a part of the 4th Armored Division in the Battles of Normandy, France, Belgium, Germany and the Battle of the Bulge. He was separated from the service in 1946 but remained in the Reserves until September of 1953 when he was discharged. Upon his separation from service he enrolled at NDSU in Fargo and graduated as a Pharmacist in 1949. He worked in that capacity in Detroit Lakes and Brainerd before taking over the management of The Rexall Drug Store in Staples, MN. He later purchased the store from Wm, Shelver. In 1968 he sold the story to Frank Gardner and continued to work as a Pharmacist at Staples Rexall and Longbella Drug for a number of years. He retired as a Pharmacist in 1991. He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church where he served for a. time on the Finance Committee and was instrumental in the forming of the Trust Fund at the Church and served on the Trust Fund Committee for several years. He also was a member of the American Legion, VFW, and Masonic Lodge and past member of the Chamber of Commerce and Lions' Club of Staples. He especially enjoyed hunting, usually with his dog, fishing, and also played golf for many years. He was also a member of the Staples Cemetery Board. He is survived by two brothers, Paul of Reynoldsburg, Ohio; Gene of Fargo, ND; and several nieces and nephews. His parents, two brothers and 3 sisters died earlier.