1953
Rodney
2014
Rodney Willemssen
December 17, 1953 — April 8, 2014
Rodney, or 'Rocky' as he came to be known, was born December 17th, 1953, in Breckenridge, MN, the second son to Thaine 'Doc' and Donna (Lee) Willemssen; he died Tuesday, April 08, 2014, at St. Catherine's Living Center, Wahpeton, ND.
Services include a public visitation on Friday, April 11th, from 5pm to 8pm, with a 7pm prayer service, at Joseph Vertin & Sons Funeral Home in Breckenridge, MN. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 12th, at Noon, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Breckenridge, MN, immediately followed by burial at St. Mary's Cemetery.
Growing up in Foxhome, MN, Rocky enjoyed being part of a large family that included four brothers, one sister, and a larger extended family. Small town life and family events filled his growing years. Birthday celebrations and holidays were often huge family gatherings with great food, lots of games, and plenty of visiting—and he treasured his memories of those special events. Rocky graduated from Breckenridge High School in 1972, and from Moorhead Technical College, in the field of Diesel Mechanic, in 1974.
Rocky was a longtime member of the Foxhome Fire Department, and served as "Chief" for a few years. During his 20 years as a volunteer fireman, he took his responsibilities very seriously, keeping up to date with scanner technology so he wouldn't miss a thing in the tri-county area. Many of his favorite memories were of serving his community with the fire department. He enjoyed sharing his firefighting stories and showing off the local firefighting equipment to his young nephews and nieces; impacting one nephew, who grew up to become a Paramedic-Firefighter.
After trying his hand at a few jobs, Rocky achieved his dream of becoming an over-the-road trucker. For several years he relished driving big rigs across this great country of ours from "sea to shining sea". Among his favorite activities while on the road, he loved chatting on the 'CB'; listening to books-on-tape, primarily westerns; humming along to classic country/trucker songs; and meeting new and interesting people at truck stops along the way.
He was an avid auto racing fan. When deteriorating health confined him to St. Catherine's Living Center, he could often be found passing the time watching NASCAR races on TV; playing interactive NASCAR fan games on the Internet; and putting racing themed puzzles together—one of which he had framed and hung in his room. He was thrilled that another nephew and his newest nephew-in-law became involved in local racing crews. When told that Heaven would be anything he wanted it to be, he thought for a minute and said…. "It's going to be a big raceway track, and I'll be driving!"
Rocky is survived by his Mother, Donna Willemssen of Breckenridge, MN; his Brothers, Les (Patsy) Willemssen of Wahpeton, ND, and their son Adam(Monica)Willemssen; Tom (Kim) Willemssen of Breckenridge, MN, and their children Alysha (Tanner)Oliphant, and their children, Lawson and Danika; Zach (Jenny) Willemssen; his Sister, Karleen Krause, and her children, Meghan (Carl) Tegtmeier, Chelsea, and Jade Krause; his Sister-In-Law, Shelly Willemssen, and her children, Darcie (Eric) Cribb, and their son Gannon; and Derek Willemssen.
Rocky was welcomed into Heaven by his father, Thaine 'Doc' Willemssen; brothers, Donnie Willemssen and Gary Willemssen; brother-in-law, Bruce Krause; good friend, Butch Hudson; his maternal grandparents, Willis and Rema Lee; his paternal grandparents, Thomas and Alice Willemssen; and other extended family and friends.
Services include a public visitation on Friday, April 11th, from 5pm to 8pm, with a 7pm prayer service, at Joseph Vertin & Sons Funeral Home in Breckenridge, MN. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 12th, at Noon, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Breckenridge, MN, immediately followed by burial at St. Mary's Cemetery.
Growing up in Foxhome, MN, Rocky enjoyed being part of a large family that included four brothers, one sister, and a larger extended family. Small town life and family events filled his growing years. Birthday celebrations and holidays were often huge family gatherings with great food, lots of games, and plenty of visiting—and he treasured his memories of those special events. Rocky graduated from Breckenridge High School in 1972, and from Moorhead Technical College, in the field of Diesel Mechanic, in 1974.
Rocky was a longtime member of the Foxhome Fire Department, and served as "Chief" for a few years. During his 20 years as a volunteer fireman, he took his responsibilities very seriously, keeping up to date with scanner technology so he wouldn't miss a thing in the tri-county area. Many of his favorite memories were of serving his community with the fire department. He enjoyed sharing his firefighting stories and showing off the local firefighting equipment to his young nephews and nieces; impacting one nephew, who grew up to become a Paramedic-Firefighter.
After trying his hand at a few jobs, Rocky achieved his dream of becoming an over-the-road trucker. For several years he relished driving big rigs across this great country of ours from "sea to shining sea". Among his favorite activities while on the road, he loved chatting on the 'CB'; listening to books-on-tape, primarily westerns; humming along to classic country/trucker songs; and meeting new and interesting people at truck stops along the way.
He was an avid auto racing fan. When deteriorating health confined him to St. Catherine's Living Center, he could often be found passing the time watching NASCAR races on TV; playing interactive NASCAR fan games on the Internet; and putting racing themed puzzles together—one of which he had framed and hung in his room. He was thrilled that another nephew and his newest nephew-in-law became involved in local racing crews. When told that Heaven would be anything he wanted it to be, he thought for a minute and said…. "It's going to be a big raceway track, and I'll be driving!"
Rocky is survived by his Mother, Donna Willemssen of Breckenridge, MN; his Brothers, Les (Patsy) Willemssen of Wahpeton, ND, and their son Adam(Monica)Willemssen; Tom (Kim) Willemssen of Breckenridge, MN, and their children Alysha (Tanner)Oliphant, and their children, Lawson and Danika; Zach (Jenny) Willemssen; his Sister, Karleen Krause, and her children, Meghan (Carl) Tegtmeier, Chelsea, and Jade Krause; his Sister-In-Law, Shelly Willemssen, and her children, Darcie (Eric) Cribb, and their son Gannon; and Derek Willemssen.
Rocky was welcomed into Heaven by his father, Thaine 'Doc' Willemssen; brothers, Donnie Willemssen and Gary Willemssen; brother-in-law, Bruce Krause; good friend, Butch Hudson; his maternal grandparents, Willis and Rema Lee; his paternal grandparents, Thomas and Alice Willemssen; and other extended family and friends.
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