Stephen Fenske

Stephen (Steve) Michael Fenske, husband, father, grandfather, entrepreneur, and friend to many, passed away in the evening on Monday, September 16, 2013 with his wife, two daughters, two son-in-laws, and his best friend/son, (Mike Brooks) by his side. Steve had a lengthy illness and beat every odd the Doctors gave him for the past six and a half years. Steve and Joyce owned Fenskes Suburban Sanitation in Byron, MN and kept the recycling portion of the business after selling the company after 28 years of being in business. Steve has driven bobcat and trucks for 40+ years and loved every minute of it. He was a very hard working man with little time of rest. His main job the past 10 years was picking up large cardboard bales with the bobcat from different businesses, making friends at each stop. Steve gave everyone and everything he loved a nickname. His immediate loving family consists of his wife of 44 years,Joyce (Gage) Little Fluffer, who always supported and took care of him. She would drive class B trucks, haul garbage, and kept him in line as best she could with an unruly man like himself. His oldest daughter, Christy Buchan Monster who was always underfoot wanting to do/see whatever dad was doing. Her husband, Brent Buchan was always referred to as Big Guy and helped with many things at their home and shop. Their children, Alexander Porky, and Lauren Moo-Nut loved to play down in the shop by grandpa while he was working.They loved crawling on the cardboard bales in the shop and following him around like their mom always did. Grandpa would make a fort for them with cardboard bales and they would play for hours. His youngest daughter, Shelly Buchanan Poopy-Doo who was his biggest confidant and guardian angel. She lives across the road so was incessantly called to come up and help for five minutes which always ended up being an hour. Shelly left her Nursing job of 15 years to help her dad with his business while his health was failing. She drove bobcat, Class B truck, and learned everything he wanted to teach her in his last months of life. Shellys husband, Dr. Todd Buchanan Dudley was always getting grief from Steve for messing something up, or for borrowing his tools. They enjoyed spending time together and picking on each other. Their children, Raquel Bozo, and Nash (Tank),saw him every day and worshipped everything he said and did. They rode on the bobcat, drove it, helped with the business, and loved to ride in the big blue truck. They climbed on the cardboard bales and even had grandpa lift them up with the bobcat as high as they could go. Mike Brooks Son, Steves best friend, got Steve out of his shell and took him on his first fishing trip, Twins game, to comedy shows, and concerts. They loved to have shrimp at Whistle Binkies and no doubt caused a lot of trouble wherever they went. Mike was a very good friend not only to Steve but to the whole family. Mike would come up to help at the drop of a hat when we needed him most. He has become a part of the family, and will likelymiss dad slapping his hand as he reaches to take food off his plate. Mike Brooks, Brent Buchan and Todd Buchanan promised to take good care of Steves two daughters and wife for him. The things Steve loved most were taking a drive in his bright yellow corvette with his wife Joyce to the casino where he could shut down a black jack table. He was a man who loved numbers and figuring out how things worked and ways of fixing things with duct tape and zip ties that would blow your mind! He loved telling stories in his animated fashion. Of all the things Steve loved, his grandchildren took the cake. He melted with a simple hug, smile, or kiss from any of them! Steve was preceded in death by his mother, Irene (Lica)Fenske, and father, Albert (Swede) Fenske, and two infant siblings. Steve is survived by his wife, Joyce (Gage), daughter Christy (Brent Buchan) daughter Shelly (Dr. Todd Buchanan), Four grandchildren, Raquel and Nash (Buchanan), Alexander and Lauren (Buchan); Siblings, Karen (Dan Jeno)of Faribault, Bob Fenske of Dexter, Dan Fenske of Rochester, Kathy (Dave Hilliard) of Hawaii, Pam Fenske of Rochester, Laurene (Rick Miller) and Randy (Roxanne) Fenske of Rochester. To celebrate Steves life and share stories of his quick wit, outrageous one-liners, and wonderful sense of humor, please join his family and friends for a visitation from 4-7 p.m. Friday evening at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes and also one hr prior to the service Saturday at the funeral home.Funeral service held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, September 21 at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes. Burial will take place at Grandview Memorial Gardens in Rochester.