Ralph Hennis

Ralph Arnold Hennis, age 95, of Madelia, died on August 4, 2024, at Madelia Health in Madelia.

A graveside service with honors will be held at Riverside Cemetery in Madelia, on Friday, August 9, 2024, at 10:30 am. Arrangements are with Sturm Funeral Home in Madelia. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.

Ralph was born May 29th, 1929, on a farm in Fieldon Township near Madelia, Minnesota to William Hennis and Josephine (Tisler) Hennis where he was one of twelve children. Ralph attended rural elementary school and enlisted for the United States Navy for the service by age 17. When he left for the Navy, he told all the guys he was going to marry the girl across the street when he gets back. By 1951, he did marry the love of his life. While he served in the Navy, he was a radio operator for almost 4 years on the USS Iowa. He would relay letters written in morse code to the decoder to be decoded. He also spent time on aircraft carriers. When he returned home, he started a family with Vivian. They had 4 children together. Ralph worked a few years at the Hatchery in Madelia and worked at John Deere before he went on to start working for Anderson Plumbing. He then went on to work under the Union Pipefitters and Plumbing out of Mankato and helped with building and plumbing in most of the original downtown Mankato buildings. In between all his side jobs and helping every neighbor around the area, he made time to spend with his kids, grandkids and great grandkids. From fishing, working in the garage and teaching all the kids the correct way to mow a lawn, he never missed an opportunity to show the younger generations what real work ethic looked like. He spent lots of time in his yard gardening and loved to watch the traffic pass by.

Ralph is survived by his wife of 73 years, Vivian (Haycraft) Hennis; his daughters, Vickie Hennis of Chaska and LouAnn (Hennis)Tierney and husband, Norman of Arizona; sons, David Hennis and wife, Mary also of Arizona and Michael Hennis and wife, Deedee of Madelia; grandchildren, Bryan Hennis of Madelia, Brandi Hennis of North Mankato, Amy (Tierney) Collins and husband, Chris of Arizona, Tiffiany Hennis Cazares and boyfriend, Marco of North Mankato, Dustin Hennis of Arizona, Jamie (Hennis) White and husband, Jared of Connecticut, and Tyson Hennis of Lake Crystal; great grandchildren, Cesar Martinez and girlfriend, Jada of Mankato, Payge (Hennis) Duerksen and husband, Tylor of Madelia, Brayden Hennis of Wisconsin, Emilio Martinez and fiancé, Alexis of Mankato, Danny Hurley and wife, Katylyn of Arizona, Yasmin Cazares and boyfriend, Angelo of North Mankato, Moses Martinez and girlfriend, Maiah of North Mankato, Connor Hurley of Arizona, Vanesa Cazares of North Mankato, Eduardo Cazares and girlfriend, Dajah of North Mankato, Cameron Hennis of Lake Crystal, Jonathan Aliff of North Mankato, Emma Collins of Arizona, and Melenie Escalante of North Mankato; 11 great-great grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and cousins from all around the U.S.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; 5 brothers, Elmer, Clarence, Earl, Joseph, and Lyle; and 6 sisters, Rose Johnson, Marian Dokken, Irene Roske, Ethel Hennis Pettersen, Florence Hennis and Louise Hennis.