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IN LOVING MEMORY OF Alan John Drenckhahn
Alan John
Drenckhahn
Dec 3, 1934 — Jan 25, 2017
Alan John Drenckhahn's Obituary
Alan ("AJ" or "Al") was born on December 3, 1934 in Red Wing, MN. He grew up in the Red Wing area and graduated from Red Wing High School in 1952.
After high school, AJ was hired on by the Milwaukee Road Railroad, retiring in 1996 after 40 dedicated years as a locomotive engineer. One major historical highlight during his career was being the engineer who drove the first Amtrak passenger train from La Crosse, WI to Minneapolis, MN in 1972.
AJ joined the US Army in 1958 and was stationed for most of his tour in Germany. One of his proudest memories of his time in service was passing Elvis Presley in the Fulda Gap during maneuvers.
Through the 60s and 70s, AJ raised 3 boys in Eagan, MN. He spent evenings during those years as a volunteer, coaching football, hockey and baseball. He also was a member of the Eagan Volunteer Fire Department. AJ attended church at St. James Lutheran Church in West St. Paul for over 50 years.
AJ relished his German heritage. On his many return trips to Germany visiting family and friends, he spent most evenings at the home of Walter and Rikki Haensel enjoying their warm hospitality, and perhaps a German bier or two. With his passion and love for the German culture, AJ became involved with several German clubs in the Twin Cities area, culminating with his opening up the Edelweiss German Gift shop in the 1980s in Eagan, MN. AJ was very active in the German community in St. Paul including Spielmannszug Minnesota. He was given the honor of representing that club as their Prinz in 2002-2003, and also again had the honor of representing GAMGA as their National Prinz in 2008. Right up until his passing he was an active member of the German American Social Club of Nevada.
In 1988, AJ met Joyce at North Como Presbyterian Church's singles meeting. In 1990, AJ and his nephew, Eric, purchased the Mini Inn, a bar in Minneiska, MN. They re-named it Drenckhahn's Harbor. AJ had many great memories of remodeling and running that bar. Joyce was by his side every weekend to help with the cooking and running of that establishment. After retiring in 1996, AJ sold Drenckhahn's Harbor and purchased a cabin on South Center Lake, near Lindstrom, MN. He thoroughly enjoyed spending the next two summers fixing and remodeling that cabin, making it into a year-round home. He also greatly enjoyed the outdoors which included many hunting trips to Montana. He was an avid fisherman and could be found summer evenings fishing from his dock. When he was not busy catching whoppers out of the lake he could be found tending his vegetable garden and flowers that surrounded his patio. AJ's love for his grandchildren prompted him to spend as much time with them as he could.
In August of 2002, AJ and Joyce were finally married and started to travel more. In 2004, they became "snowbirds" and purchased a second home in Las Vegas, NV. Every January, they enjoyed two weeks at their beloved Surf Club on Marco Island, FL. AJ and Joyce traveled across the United States during their retirement years including stops in Washington DC, New York, Yellowstone Park, Austin, TX, and Branson, MO, visiting many of the National Parks as they traveled between Las Vegas and Minnesota each year.
AJ also volunteered for many roles throughout his life including:
Former member of St. Croix Lutheran Board of
Regents, West St. Paul, MN
Former UTU local Chairman Minneapolis, MN
Former President of St. Paul Minneapolis NARVRE
Unit 109
Former President and Prinz of Spielmannszug
Minnesota
Past Prinz of GAMGA
Former President of the Opulence Homeowners
Association in Las Vegas, NV
Bar Manager at the Klub Haus St. Paul, MN
AJ was a caring husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend and will be greatly missed. He is survived by his loving wife, Joyce; sons, Theron (Lori), Daniel (LouAnne); stepchildren Wendy (Brian) Fitzwater, Chris Zinken, Kathi (Lloyd) Hocutt; 11 grandchildren, Nathanial (Diana), Jeremy, Melissa, Christina (Jason) Oberle, David (Fiancée, Brittany), Rick, Darla, Amanda Fitzwater, Cameron (Nicole) Fitzwater, Taylor Hocutt, Ava Hocutt; and 2 great-grandchildren, Brock, Levi Thiebaud; sister, Jane (Tom) Putnam and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Lulu; son, David; brothers, Dale (Betty), Leon; and sister, Lois (Earl) Wood.
After high school, AJ was hired on by the Milwaukee Road Railroad, retiring in 1996 after 40 dedicated years as a locomotive engineer. One major historical highlight during his career was being the engineer who drove the first Amtrak passenger train from La Crosse, WI to Minneapolis, MN in 1972.
AJ joined the US Army in 1958 and was stationed for most of his tour in Germany. One of his proudest memories of his time in service was passing Elvis Presley in the Fulda Gap during maneuvers.
Through the 60s and 70s, AJ raised 3 boys in Eagan, MN. He spent evenings during those years as a volunteer, coaching football, hockey and baseball. He also was a member of the Eagan Volunteer Fire Department. AJ attended church at St. James Lutheran Church in West St. Paul for over 50 years.
AJ relished his German heritage. On his many return trips to Germany visiting family and friends, he spent most evenings at the home of Walter and Rikki Haensel enjoying their warm hospitality, and perhaps a German bier or two. With his passion and love for the German culture, AJ became involved with several German clubs in the Twin Cities area, culminating with his opening up the Edelweiss German Gift shop in the 1980s in Eagan, MN. AJ was very active in the German community in St. Paul including Spielmannszug Minnesota. He was given the honor of representing that club as their Prinz in 2002-2003, and also again had the honor of representing GAMGA as their National Prinz in 2008. Right up until his passing he was an active member of the German American Social Club of Nevada.
In 1988, AJ met Joyce at North Como Presbyterian Church's singles meeting. In 1990, AJ and his nephew, Eric, purchased the Mini Inn, a bar in Minneiska, MN. They re-named it Drenckhahn's Harbor. AJ had many great memories of remodeling and running that bar. Joyce was by his side every weekend to help with the cooking and running of that establishment. After retiring in 1996, AJ sold Drenckhahn's Harbor and purchased a cabin on South Center Lake, near Lindstrom, MN. He thoroughly enjoyed spending the next two summers fixing and remodeling that cabin, making it into a year-round home. He also greatly enjoyed the outdoors which included many hunting trips to Montana. He was an avid fisherman and could be found summer evenings fishing from his dock. When he was not busy catching whoppers out of the lake he could be found tending his vegetable garden and flowers that surrounded his patio. AJ's love for his grandchildren prompted him to spend as much time with them as he could.
In August of 2002, AJ and Joyce were finally married and started to travel more. In 2004, they became "snowbirds" and purchased a second home in Las Vegas, NV. Every January, they enjoyed two weeks at their beloved Surf Club on Marco Island, FL. AJ and Joyce traveled across the United States during their retirement years including stops in Washington DC, New York, Yellowstone Park, Austin, TX, and Branson, MO, visiting many of the National Parks as they traveled between Las Vegas and Minnesota each year.
AJ also volunteered for many roles throughout his life including:
Former member of St. Croix Lutheran Board of
Regents, West St. Paul, MN
Former UTU local Chairman Minneapolis, MN
Former President of St. Paul Minneapolis NARVRE
Unit 109
Former President and Prinz of Spielmannszug
Minnesota
Past Prinz of GAMGA
Former President of the Opulence Homeowners
Association in Las Vegas, NV
Bar Manager at the Klub Haus St. Paul, MN
AJ was a caring husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend and will be greatly missed. He is survived by his loving wife, Joyce; sons, Theron (Lori), Daniel (LouAnne); stepchildren Wendy (Brian) Fitzwater, Chris Zinken, Kathi (Lloyd) Hocutt; 11 grandchildren, Nathanial (Diana), Jeremy, Melissa, Christina (Jason) Oberle, David (Fiancée, Brittany), Rick, Darla, Amanda Fitzwater, Cameron (Nicole) Fitzwater, Taylor Hocutt, Ava Hocutt; and 2 great-grandchildren, Brock, Levi Thiebaud; sister, Jane (Tom) Putnam and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Otto and Lulu; son, David; brothers, Dale (Betty), Leon; and sister, Lois (Earl) Wood.
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Funeral Services for Alan John Drenckhahn
Visitation
February
12
Sunday
Johnson-Peterson Funeral Home St. Paul
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Visitation
February
13
Monday
Saint James Lutheran Church
9:30 - 10:30 am
Funeral Service
February
13
Monday
Saint James Lutheran Church
Starts at 10:30 am
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