Roland "Rollie" Walter Hensel

Roland (Rollie) Walter Hensel, 95, of Bemidji, MN died Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at Bemidji Medical Center.

Funeral Services will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 22, 2024 at First Lutheran Church, Bemidji with Pastor Cory Furhman officiating. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Sunday, July 21, 2024 at Olson-Schwartz Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Bemidji.

Rollie was born December 10, 1928 in Bemidji, MN. to Eugene Carl and Gladys Irene (Johnson) Hensel of Frohn Township, Bemidji MN. Rollie graduated from Bemidji High School in 1948. He then attended Bemidji State for two years where he played football. In January of 1951 his National Guard unit was called to active duty and was deployed to Camp Rucker, Alabama (Co E 136th Inf Regt 47th Div). His duty assignment was artillery training of new recruits. He was honorably discharged in May of 1952 at the rank of Master Sergeant.

On September 29, 1956 Rollie married Karen Maitland and moved to Babbitt, MN. While there he worked for Reserve Mining. In 1962 they moved to the Bemidji area where he was a service station owner for Skelly Oil Products, Hensel’s Inc general building contractor and Hensel Overhead Door Service. He officially retired in November of 2017 although continued to take door service calls from past clients and friends for years after. This was no surprise to anyone who knew him, he always had time to help out friends and neighbors.

He was a character, strong in his opinions and not shy about voicing them. A die-hard Vikings fan he would spend many a Sunday yelling at the television. Never to be seen without a cup of coffee in his hand, and perhaps a cookie or two, he had a joke or pun for every occasion. Hunting and fishing were his first loves, the company of a good dog by his side. He also loved showing kids how to do these things and get excited about them. Later, the golf bug would bite with time spent with friends and family on the links.

Rollie is survived by his son, Craig (Julie) Hensel; grandchildren, Brett and Kent Morien, Joshua Hensel, Zachary and Zane Hensel, Nadia and Aidan Yliniemi Hensel; 2 great-grandchildren and sister, Carol Aenne.

Preceded in death by his parents, wife Karen and son, Laird.

Memorials may be directed to the First Lutheran Church, Bemidji.

www.OlsonSchwartzFuneralHome.com 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Roland "Rollie" Walter Hensel, please visit our floral store.