James "Jim" Rehkamp

James G. “Jim” Rehkamp, age 63 of Albany, passed away unexpectedly from complications of a blood infection on Friday, March 15, 2024 at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 19 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in St. Anthony with Rev. Edward Vebelun, O.S.B. officiating and Rev. Julius Beckermann, O.S.B. concelebrating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at the Seven Dolors Gathering Area in Albany and from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Tuesday at the St. Anthony Catholic Church in St. Anthony. 

James Gerard Rehkamp was born June 25, 1960 in Sauk Centre, Minnesota to Leander and Josephine (Engelmeyer) Rehkamp. He graduated from Sauk Centre High School in 1979 and continued his education at Alexandria Technical College, graduating in 1981. Jim was united in marriage to Joyce Beutz on September 20, 1986 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in St. Anthony. Jim worked at Fred Ostendorf Excavating in Sauk Centre for a few years before starting at Wonder Hostess Cakes in Sauk Centre in 1986 as a truck mechanic. In 2005, he began working at Stearns Manufacturing in Sauk Rapids in facility maintenance. Jim was currently working at Wells Concrete in Albany as a mechanic/maintenance engineer. 

Jim enjoyed hunting, fishing, 4-wheeling, gardening, staying busy, and most of all, being a grandpa. To his family he was the “Jim of all trades”. He was able to fix anything. He was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church where he served as a trustee, member of St. Anthony Men’s Society, St. Joseph Rod and Gun Club, and Pioneer Club in Albany.

Survivors include his loving wife, Joyce Rehkamp of Albany; daughter, Tanya (Ryan) Willenbring of Eden Valley; son, Travis (McKenna) Rehkamp of Albany; grandchildren, Emma, Eli, Carson, and Baby Willenbring on the way; mother, Josephine Rehkamp of Sauk Centre; and sisters, Carol Ervasti of Sauk Rapids and Diane (Gregg) Kyllo of Otsego; mother-in-law, Geneva Beutz of Albany; brother-in-law, Ray Beutz of Albany; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Leander Rehkamp; father-in-law, Ervin Beutz; sister and brother-in-law, Jeanne (Beutz) and (Scott) Younkin; along with many aunts and uncles.