Ernest B. "Ernie" Hinnenkamp, age 85 of Melrose, died unexpectedly on Monday, January 3, 2011 at the Melrose Area Hospital in Melrose, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, January 6 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Parish prayers will be at 6 p.m. followed by the Sts. Bernard & Elizabeth Council at 7 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Ernest Bernard Hinnenkamp was born April 26, 1925 in Melrose, Minnesota to Frank and Elizabeth (Schmeising) Hinnenkamp. Ernie attended the Hellermann School which was located 4 miles north of Melrose on County Road 13 thru the 8th grade.

Ernie was united in marriage to Marcella Ann Gruber on September 27, 1948 at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Belgrade. He was a dairy farmer for many years. He was a true to heart John Deere farmer. Ernie retired to their lake home on Lake Sylvia in 1984 and truly enjoyed the serenity that it provided.

Ernie was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose and St. Bernard's Society. Ernie enjoyed playing cards and spending time at the local businesses with his card playing buddies. Ernie loved spending time with his family and he was a great story and joke teller. He also enjoyed watching the Minnesota Twins, old time dancing, barn dances and traveling.

Ernie was a talented musician playing the accordion, concertina, harmonica and drums. He was an avid fisherman who loved fishing for pan fish, walleyes, and northerns.

Survivors include his wife, Marcella Ann Hinnenkamp of Melrose; children, Marc (Annette) Hinnenkamp of Sauk Centre, Ken Hinnenkamp of Melrose, Tom (Deb) Hinnenkamp of White Bear Lake, Sharon Uphoff of Melrose, Fran (Patsy) Hinnenkamp of Melrose, Steve (Margie) Hinnenkamp of Melrose, and Melissa (Ray) Herrington of St. Cloud; 19 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; sisters, Leona Blenker of Melrose, Lydia Beuning of Melrose, Mary Ann Tooley of Prineville, Oregon, Ida (Frank) Pung of Alamo, Texas and Jeanette Zehrer of Melrose.

Ernie was preceded in death by his father, Frank Hinnenkamp on November 21, 1980; mother, Elizabeth Hinnenkamp on January 22, 1975; brothers and sisters, Lillian, Sylvester, Monica, Hubert, Fred, Jim, and Irene; and son-in-law, Gary Uphoff.

Serving as casket bearers will be Jon Hinnenkamp, Ben Hinnenkamp, Adam Hinnenkamp, Josh Uphoff, Skylar Uphoff, and Justin Hinnenkamp. Cross bearer will be Jacob Hinnenkamp and scripture bearer will be Shelby Uphoff.