Roger K. Hynnek

Roger Killian Hynnek, 88, of Ortonville, MN, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at Ortonville Hospital surrounded by his family. 

Roger and his son, Steve, will have a joint funeral service on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at St. John’s Catholic Church in Ortonville, MN. Visitation will be held at the church one hour prior to the service.

Roger Killian Hynnek was born in Mellen, WI, on November 25, 1934. He was the son of John and Anastasia (Heid) Hynnek. Roger’s family moved to the Ortonville, MN, area in 1945, and he graduated from Ortonville High School in 1952. He joined the National Guard in 1953 where he got his military education at Fort Sill, OK. He retired as a major from the Guard on November 25, 1994.

Roger was united in marriage with Carol Jurgens on May 25, 1957, in Ortonville. They were blessed with five children. Roger worked as a milkman for North Star Dairy, was the district manager for American Family Insurance, owned and operated the Matador Supper Club, and was an owner/operator for a trucking company until he retired in 1996. Roger and Carol loved to travel and took several vacations with their family around the United States. Following retirement, they spent the winter months in California, Texas, and Arizona.

Roger was an avid outdoorsman. He hunted pheasants, ducks, and geese; he especially enjoyed bow-hunting deer. Family members were on the receiving end of his joy of the outdoors. The grandchildren acquired treasures of live turtles and deer antlers crafted into homemade decorations and traveled many loops through the refuge. Most summers, the grandchildren found themselves on innertubes screaming around Big Stone Lake with Grandpa behind the wheel of the boat. 

For many years, Roger served on Mound Cemetery Board and Pheasants Forever, and he volunteered for “Let’s Go Fishing.” He was a member of St. John’s Catholic Church where he served as a reader and was an altar server in his younger years. His joyful spirit was well-known around town while he drove around chatting with everyone.

Roger is survived by his wife of 65 years, Carol of Ortonville, MN; children: Steven Hynnek of Bloomington, MN; Patricia “Patty” (Jim) Trump of Johnstown, CO; Michael (Lori) Hynnek of Clinton, MN; Leslie Bundy of Oregon, WI; and Jeffrey (Natasha) Hynnek of Ortonville, MN; grandchildren: Brianna Sosa (Justin Peterson), Nicholas (Jamie) Sosa, Sydney Hynnek, Caitlin (Nathan) Barnard, Collin Bundy, Lexi Hynnek, and Isaac Hynnek; and great-grandchildren: Ethan Sosa and Gavin Sosa.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Anastasia Hynnek; brothers: Donald Hynnek, William Hynnek, Charles Hynnek, and Jack Hynnek; and sister, Betty Jane Nitz.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be given to Big Stone Health Care Foundation and Mound Cemetery Association.