Rolf William Hennig

Memorial services for Rolf Hennig, age 87, of Milaca will be held on Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 11 AM at the Estes Brook Evangelical Free Church with Rev. Wes Macy officiating. Interment will be at the Forest Hill Cemetery in Milaca. Arr. Peterson-Johnson Funeral Home of Milaca. Rolf Willi Hennig was born June 5, 1922 in Weissenfells, Germany to Emil and Maria (Thriemer) Hennig. Rolf grew up in Germany and attended high school and trade school and served an apprenticeship as a tailor. Rolf moved to live in Montreal, Canada in 1956 and then to Buffalo, NY in 1959 and later to White Bear Lake, MN in 1961. He was united in marriage to Rita Recke on December 30, 1967. They moved to a farm near Milaca, MN in 1977 and have resided there since. Rolf was a master tailor and a top designer in the clothing industry. He designed coats, raincoats, suits and other outerwear for Gordon and Fergeson, Shaefner and Marks and Cohn and Feldman and many others. He did the original designs and oversaw production of the product. He designed products for 48 labels in all and was the first to use 3M Thinsulate in his winter wear. Rolf was voted American designer of the year three times by his industry colleagues. Rolf enjoyed spending time on his hobby farm and trail riding. He died on Friday, November 27, 2009 at the Milaca Elim Home . He is survived by his wife, Rita of Milaca; children, Christine Hennig of Frankfurt, Germany and Volker (Carole) Hennig of White Bear Lake; grandchildren, Erich (Erica) Hennig of Durango, CO, Andrew (Valerie) Hennig of Vandais Heights, MN and Marie (Paul) Wonders of Burnsville, MN; great-grandchildren, Martin, Graham, Sylvia and Rhoda; also by other relatives and friends.