Howard Robert Hennen

Howard Robert Hennen died peacefully in his sleep March 1, 2025 after a 15 year battle with diabetes and congestive heart failure.

Howie is survived by his wife of 59 years, Virginia (Gullberg); his two sons, Robert and Ryan (Kristin); brothers-in-law, Paul (Endres) and Ron (Gullberg); sisters-in-law, Pat Hennen, Karol (Terry), Roberta (Scott), Kathy (Schiller); seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. 

Howie was preceded in death by his father, Ervin; mother, Lilian (Rother); sister, Sharon (Endres); and brothers, Gordon and Charles. 

As a young man, Howie graduated from Bethlehem Academy in Faribault and then Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis for Carpentry. His subsequent career in construction spanned four decades and saw him rise to the rank of Superintendent, in which role he was charged with oversight of multi-million dollar projects, including such Twin Cities landmarks as the Federal Reserve Bank, Twin City Federal, Northwestern National Life building, and Dain Plaza, as well as the renovations to the iconic Orpheum Theatre. 

Howie was immensely proud of his hometown of Hampton, Minnesota. There he served as a Member of the Jaycees and was a coach for Little League Baseball. Howie was instrumental in several memorable community initiatives, most notably the placement of a memorial flagpole near the baseball field and the installation of a holiday star on the town’s water tower, a beacon that could be seen for miles and served as the hallmark of the town for decades. 

Howie’s friends and neighbors knew him to be a very reliable and generous man. When he was not working in his garden with his grandchildren, Howie loved restoring tractors and farming. Howie would have turned 80 this year and was effusive in his love and adoration for his family.

A private family service will be held at a later date.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Starkson Family Life Celebration Chapel of Hastings.