Rodney M. Oleen, age 82, of Cambridge died May 24, 2021 at home. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, May 28th at Braham Evangelical Lutheran Church, 905 West Central Drive, Braham. A visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in Borgholm Cemetery in Bock with Military Honors provided by the Milaca American Legion.
Rodney Merlin Oleen was born January 17, 1939 at home in Bock, Minnesota to Raymond and Martha (Johnson) Oleen. He graduated from Milaca High School in 1957. Rodney then served his country in the US Navy. On February 5, 1966 he married Olivia Larson at Salem Lutheran Church in Dalbo. They were blessed with four children and made their home in New Brighton for 11 years, Ham Lake 28 years, Milaca 12 years and then moved to Cambridge in 2018. Rodney coached the kids in all their sports. He helped the kids and fixed their cars, repeatedly, over the years. He enjoyed hunting, woodworking, construction, nature, cutting, chopping and hauling wood, singing, playing cribbage and card games, church activities and bird watching. He was a lottery ticket connoisseur. Rodney also enjoyed traveling and spent time in Norway, Sweden, Iceland, the BWCA, Branson, Las Vegas, Michigan, Florida, Mexico, San Diego, Disneyland, Disneyworld, Washington State, Washington DC, Nashville and Idaho. He worked as an Electronics Tech and spent some time working in Saudi Arabia in 1982. Rodney was a member of Northstar Chorus, St. Paul Chapter, SPEBSQSA (Barber Shop Singing in America) during the 1970’s. His quartet was called “Capital Counts”.
Rodney Oleen passed away suddenly at home May 24, 2021 at the age of 82 years, 4 months and 7 days. Besides his parents he was preceded in death by a daughter, Robin Oleen in 2020.
He is survived by loving wife, Olivia; children, Patricia Oleen-Paape (Matt), Sarah Oleen-Carr (Chad), William Oleen (Joy); siblings, Janet Burklund, Karen Edwards (Jim), Kurt Oleen (Gloria); 8 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild, and by many other relatives and friends.
Many thoughts to Patti and the Oleen family at this time. Staff at Northeast Metro 916 are thinking of you and may you cherish the memories during this time of loss.