Roger "Rocky" Leo Papenfus, 71, Rochester
Rocky Papenfus passed away of natural causes at his home in Rochester on Friday, May 12, 2023. Roger Leo Papenfus, known to everyone as Rocky, was born February 28, 1952, to Charles and Marge (Aulwes) Papenfus in Austin, Minnesota.
Rocky graduated from Dodge Center High School with the Class of 1970. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and spent time in California and overseas in Okinawa during the Vietnam war. Rocky was very proud of his military service and was honorably discharged. He returned to Minnesota, was married and had a son Nicholas. Later he married Pam (Simcox) Bakken and had a daughter Nicole.
Rocky loved spending time with family and also using his talents working with his hands to create art from leather hides and deer antlers. He loved to go metal detecting whenever he had the chance and almost always had a motorcycle, or ‘chopper’ and loved riding. Other “entrepreneurial ventures” included Rocky’s Custom Knives, and Rocky’s Roofing along with his plans to invent and patent the 100-year shingle. Rocky was a long-time friend of Bill W. and enjoyed the fellowship and support amongst his many friends and acquaintances in and around Rochester.
Rocky was preceded in death by his father, Charles Papenfus, his mother Marge Matthiesen, stepdad David Matthiesen, brother Ronnie and several aunts and uncles including special uncle Bill. The loss of his son Nicholas in 1999 forever left a piece of Rocky’s heart missing and they are now reunited as father and son, raising hell in Heaven.
Rocky is survived by his daughter, Nicole (Nick) Schamp; grandsons, Noah and Nolan of Claremont and granddaughter, Mia Cain of West Concord. Surviving siblings are brother, Ric (Deb) Papenfus of Dodge Center, and sisters, Laurie Reynolds of Eagan, Linda (Keith) Cooper of Laporte, Judy (Ken) Sein of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio and Jenny (Dean) Blowers of Dodge Center. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.
There will be a graveside service with military honors, Preston Veterans Cemetery, Friday, June 30th at 3pm. The family will host a celebration of Rocky’s life Saturday, July 1st starting at 2pm at Sakers Event Center, Kasson MN.
If you desire to honor Rocky with a monetary gift, please direct donations to Paws and Claws Humane Society, Rochester. https://www.pawsandclaws.org/wpweb/donate/
To share a special memory or condolence, please visit www.czaplewskifuneralhomes.com, Czaplewski Family Funeral Homes, 801 7th Street SE, Kasson, MN 55944 (507)634-6510. Blessed be his memory.