George J. Bieniek

1934 - 2025

George J. Bieniek, age 91 of Holdingford, passed away peacefully after a long battle with dementia on Monday, June 2, 2025 at The Willows Memory Care Center at Vernon Terrance in Edina, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial, celebrating the life of George, held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 6 at the Church of All Saints, St. Hedwig's Catholic Church in Holdingford. Burial in the parish cemetery. Visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Friday at the church in Holdingford. Parish prayers held at 4 p.m. followed by a rosary from the Knights of Columbus at 6:30 p.m. Thursday evening. Military honors by the Albany American Legion Post 482.

George was born April 26, 1934 in Holding Township to John Jr. and Victoria (Kociemba) Bieniek. He grew up on a farm near Holdingford. George earned his money with his first job by picking milkweed which was used to make life jackets for Navy soldiers during World War II. During his 4 years of high school, George set bowling pins at the Fun Center (currently Redneck Roost) in Holdingford. He graduated from Holdingford High School in 1952. George had a part time construction job building dormitories at St. John's University. He volunteered tearing down old steps at St. Hedwig's Church and repairing gravestones and fence gates at the church cemetery. He moved to Minneapolis and worked various jobs including Minnesota Wrecking Company, Milrights Equipment Salvage Company, Ry-Krisp Cracker Company, Schaefer Freezer/Refrigerator Company, and worked as a dishwasher and janitor at a restaurant operated by his brother, Andrew.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1955 to 1957. It was in Minneapolis where he met the love of his life, Hildegard Smude, at the Marigold Ballroom. They were married on September 23, 1959 at St. Hedwig's Catholic Church in Holdingford. The couple moved to George's family dairy farm where the couple farmed together for over 40 years.

George was a member of St. Hedwig's Catholic Church where he joined the Knights of Columbus in 1963 and sang in the choir for many years. In his spare time, George enjoyed leather/wood crafting, gardening, camping, collecting antiques, landscaping, decorating, creating his own outdoor decorations from farm equipment/antiques, and purchasing unique indoor Christmas decorations. George always took time away from the farm to travel by car. His most memorable vacations were to San Francisco to visit his sister, Leona, the Badlands, Black Hills of South Dakota, Smoky Mountains, Minnesota North Shore, Duluth Harbor to watch the ships, and camping trips to the campsite owned by his brother, Blase, near Battle Lake. He loved listening to music, dancing, playing cards, entertaining, celebrating birthdays, special events, telling stories, jokes, and pulling pranks with family and friends, especially spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

After they retired and sold the farm, George fulfilled his dream of building a home and shop in the woods off the farm where he spent his time planting flowers, growing a vegetable garden, bird/animal watching, mushroom picking, deer hunting, fishing, tinkering, and fixing and creating many unique projects. George even became a celebrity when he was featured in the documentary Minnesota 13 From Grain to Glass where he shared personal family experiences and antiques used at the Bieniek Family farm during the Prohibition Era.

George is survived by his children, Brenda (Allan) Dobis, Avon, MN and Steven (Shannon) Bieniek, Park Rapids, MN; six grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother and sisters-in-law, John Bieniek Jr., Avon, Delores (Ebnet) Bieniek, Vadnais Heights and Marie (Ertl) Bieniek, Fergus Falls.

George was preceded in death by his wife, Hildegard (Smude) Bieniek; parents, John Sr and Victoria Bieniek; brothers, Andrew, Alois, Blase, and Thomas; sisters, Leona Pizziconi, Elenor Budde, and Florence Voss; siblings that died in infancy, Mary, Simon and Joseph (twins), Peter and Valeria; brother and sisters in-law, Paul Pizziconi, Mary Alice Bieniek, Cyril Budde, Theresa (Klimek) Bieniek, Phyllis (Litchy) Bieniek.

Thank you to Executive Director, Vicki Tobroxen and the entire staff at Willows Memory Care of Vernon Terrace for the exceptional care George received at their facility.

Arrangements were made with Patton-Schad Funeral and Cremation Services of Melrose.