Rodney Joel Robinson

January 10th, 1943—April 20,2020

 Rodney Joel Robinson, age 77, of Rochester, MN passed away on
Monday April 20,202 at Seasons Hospice House. Rodney was born on
January 10, 1943 in Blooming Prairie, MN to Edward and Louetta (Stork)
Robinson. He graduated from Blooming Prairie High School in 1960. He
took drafting courses in Los Angeles, California, after which, he helped
draw up the U.S. Echo satellites. He took numerous contracts at Clyde
Iron Works in Duluth, MN., and many others. In 1983, he decided to
part from his career as a Structural Steel Detailer. His interest shifted to
renting apartments. He owned and managed 37 units up until 2014.

In his early days, at the age of 25, he toured Europe. With only his
1967 BSA motorcycle that he purchased at Pride and Clarke in London
and his trusty duffle bag, he explored Amsterdam, England, France,
Germany, Spain, and Switzerland. While traveling, he also took up work
such as unloading ore boats in the Netherlands to sustain himself. He
had so much fun when he attended Spain’s famous running of the bulls.
Rodney’s travels were filled with wonderful memories of the places he
visited and the friends he met. Some of them traveled together to Cali-
fornia and then on to Mexico where they would meet with other friends
at Mazatlán, Cancun and Acapulco. For 14 straight years, Rodney win-
tered together with his friends in Mexico.

He had many hobbies, but especially loved bicycle riding. The re-
cumbent bicycle was his favorite. This hobby led him to ride from Inter-
national Falls on the edge of Canada’s border down to Brownsville, Tex-
as. He had his proud bicycle rider moment when he was featured in the
San Benito newspaper on February 12, 1997 in the article “Man Pedals
from Border to Border.” His travels went on, and he explored many
places like Augusta, Maine and Key West, Florida. He also joined a few
charitable bike rides across Minnesota. He loved participating the annu-
al Saint Paul Classic Bike Tour each September.

Another thing Rodney enjoyed was an online game of poker. In

2006, Rodney won a seat worth $10,000 buy in, to the World Poker Tour-
nament in Las Vegas. This enjoyable experience was shared with his wife,
close friends and their spouses whom he brought along with him.

Rodney was free-spirited. He could have stayed an adventurous

bachelor, however, when he saw Maria’s profile online, he decided to
give it a shot. Maria was a third grade teacher in the Philippines when
Rodney became friends with her. After two and a half years of writing to
each other, the couple met in person in Hong Kong in 2001. Six months
later, Maria joined him in the U.S where they eventually tied the knot on
October 18, 2002 at the Little Brown Church of the Vale in Nashua, Iowa.

After his marriage to Maria, the couple set out every winter pulling
their travel trailer, journeying across the country, mostly in the western
part. They traveled to many places together in their 15 years of being
snow birds. The couple enjoyed 17 years of happy marriage.

In 2014, Rodney decided to retire fully by selling his last apartment

building and buying a house in Rochester. He still maintained his bicycle-
riding hobby; riding around Silver Lake and Quarry Hills Trail with his
three-wheeled recumbent bike.

Rodney was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Louetta,

and his brother, Gayle Robinson. He is survived by his wife, Maria, his
sister, Judy Rentschler (Louisville, KY), several nieces, nephews, grand-
nieces, and grandnephews.

Maria would like to extend her sincere gratitude and appreciation to

everyone who helped her in taking care of Rodney; the Mayo Clinic Hos-
pice, the Season’s Hospice House, who were all compassionate and dedi-
cated caregivers, and most especially to the many family and friends who
extended their support and offered their prayers.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.