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man‎William Edward Rooney‏‎, son of John Rooney and Mary McCool‏.
Born ‎29 Oct 1862 Wakefield Township, Outaouais, Quebec, Canada, died ‎14 Nov 1938 Raymond Township, Stearns County, Minnesota Event Description: St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Padua‎, age 76 years, buried Padua, Stearns County, Minnesota
William was born in Canada and moved to Minneapolis, with his parents, when he was three years old. They lived there three years, and then moved to Raymond township where they homesteaded 160 acres located about 2 1/2 mile southwest of Padua. Their original farm machinery consisted of a breaking plow and a cradle.

William continued to live there for the next 70 years until his death, at age 76 years. From a wilderness of hazel brush and oak trees, the Rooney's, in two generations had built one of the nicest and most modern farm homes in the township. During the first years, Will Rooney, walked from his home to St Cloud, a distance of at least fifty miles, for supplies such as flour, sugar, coffee and salt.

For almost half a century, he served as chairman of the school board in District 7 and was also a director of the creamery board at Padua.

Cause of death: Cerebral thrombosis (Paralysis of right side and muscles of respiration on right); with contributory causes of congestive bronchitis (due to the right sided respiratory paralysis). Scrotal hernia, left side, for 20 years. Ambrose Gaffaney attended his funeral.

ROONEY, WILL

Will Rooney was born October 29, 1863 at Ottawa Canada. His parents were John Rooney and Mary (McCool) Rooney. John and Mary (McCool) Rooney were born in Ireland. They were the parents of the following children: Michael; James; John; Hugh; Patrick; Tom; Will; Mary Anna; Catherine; Sarah; and Lisa.
John and Mary (McCool) Rooney came to Minnesota in 1866 and homesteaded 160 acres of land in Raymond Township, which is now occupied by Will Rooney. His farm machinery consisted of a breaking plow and cradle.
Will Rooney was married to Helene Riedel on April 5, 1889. Her parents were Peter and Mathilda (Schultz) Riedel. Helen Riedel was born in Germany June 7, 1877. There were married in St. Anthony's Catholic Church at Padua by Father Welp.
To this union were born twelve children who are: Edmund J., born March 4, 1900; Joseph D., born October 12, 1901; Felix J. born October 16, 1902; Walter E., born July 29, 1904; Mary Helena, born May 3, 1906; Agnes Mathilda, born September 2, 1908; Emmet W., born June 18, 1910 ; Leo A., born May 10, 1912; Robert G., born August 22, 1914; Howard A., born August 13, 1916; Leonard J., born March 19, 1918; Catherine Marvel, born April 29, 1920. There are thirteen grandchildren. The boys are all farming in Raymond township except Emmet who is a bookkeeper .
Will Rooney has been a member of the school board for forty-five years .
From a wilderness of hazel brush and oak trees the Rooneys, in two generations, have built one of the nicest and most modern farm homes in the township. During the first years Will Rooney walked from his home to St. Cloud, a distance of at least fifty miles, for supplies such as flour, sugar, coffee and salt.
The Rooney family is of the Catholic faith.

Interviewed: Will Rooney      Date: September 15, 1936
By: Dorothy Hansmann

Married ‎5 Apr 1899 Raymond Township, Stearns County, Minnesota, age 36 years
St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Padua
(married 39 years) to:

womanHelena Mathilda "Lena" Riedel‏, age by marriage 21 years
Born ‎7 Jun 1877 Neustadt, Silesia, Prussia, died ‎6 Feb 1962 Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minnesota Event Description: St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, Padua‎, age 84 years, buried Padua, Stearns County, Minnesota
Cause of death: Arteriosoleratic heart disease.
St Michael's Hospital, after a 30 day stay.

Surname pronounced “Ree’ del”
(Medical):Cause of death: Arteriosoleratic heart disease.
St Michael's Hospital, after a 30 day stay.

St Michael's Hospital, after a 30 day stay.

Children:

1.
manEdmund John Rooney‏
Born ‎4 Mar 1900 Raymond Township, Stearns County, Minnesota, died ‎27 Apr 1952 Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minnesota‎, age 52 years, buried Padua, Stearns County, Minnesota
Cause of death: Sarcoma of bladder.

2.
manJoseph Dennis "Jo" Rooney‏
Born ‎12 Oct 1901 Raymond Township, Stearns County, Minnesota, died ‎22 Nov 1957 Pasco, Washington‎, age 56 years
He left on a train and went west and the kids never saw him again, according to Clara Rooney at the Padua Pub (2017).

3.
manFelix James Rooney‏
Born ‎16 Oct 1902 Raymond Township, Stearns County, Minnesota, died ‎7 Aug 1955 Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon‎, age 52 years
Edmond Egan (1924-1950) is a hired man with the Felix Rooney family in 1940 in Raymond Township, Stearns County. Edmond is Felix's first cousin once-removed.

4.
manWalter Edward "Edward Walter" Rooney‏
Born ‎29 Jul 1904 Raymond Township, Stearns County, Minnesota, died ‎21 Dec 1987 Belgrade, Stearns County, Minnesota Event Description: St. Donatus Catholic Cemetery, Brooten‎, age 83 years, buried Brooten, Stearns County, Minnesota
After Walter married, he farmed north of Brooten for many years until retiring and moving to Brooten in 1969. He was a member of of the Holy Name Society of Padua and served on the creamery boards of Padua and Brooten. He also served on the Raymond Township Board.

5.
womanMary Helen Rooney‏
Born ‎3 May 1906 Raymond Township, Stearns County, Minnesota, died ‎31 Jul 1996 Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minnesota‎, age 90 years

6.
womanAgnes Matilda Rooney‏
Born ‎2 Sep 1908 Raymond Township, Stearns County, Minnesota, died ‎23 Sep 1999 Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minnesota‎, age 91 years, buried Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minnesota

7.
manEmmet William Rooney‏
Born ‎18 Jun 1910 Raymond Township, Stearns County, Minnesota, died ‎7 Nov 1984 Salem, Marion County, Oregon‎, age 74 years

8.
man‎Leo Anthony Rooney‏‎
Born ‎10 May 1912 Raymond Township, Stearns County, Minnesota, died ‎23 Feb 1985 Raymond Township, Stearns County, Minnesota‎, age 72 years, buried Padua, Stearns County, Minnesota
Leo never married. He lived and worked on the same farm in Raymond Township all his life. He died at the age 75 while cutting wood in a grove on the farm that his grandparents settled on May 1, 1868 and later homesteaded, two miles south of Padua.


Obituary, originally published St. Cloud Times, 26 Feb 1985:

Leo Rooney

PADUA - Funeral Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Anthony's Catholic Church for Leo A. Rooney, 72, who died Saturday at his home.

The Rev. Vincent Santo will officiate. Burial will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call after 3:30 p.m. today at Schad Funeral Home, Sauk Centre. Parish prayers will be at 8 tonight at the funeral home in Sauk Centre followed by Holy Name Society at 8:30.

Mr. Rooney was born May 10, 1912, in Padua to the late William and Helena (Riedel) Rooney. He farmed in the Padua area ll his life and was a member of St. Anthony's Parish of Padua and Holy Name Society.

Survivors include brothers and sisters, Walter, Brooten; Leonard, Sedan; Mrs. Mary Ahles, St. Cloud; Mrs. Agnes Steinhoff, Shelby, Mont.; and Mrs. Andew (Marvel) Majerus, Portland, Ore.

He was preceded in death by brothers Edmund, Joseph, Felix, Emmett, Robert and Howard.

Originally published August 1998, Padua Cemetery, by Ginny Walz Borgerding

Leo Rooney was the son of William and Helena (Riedel) Rooney. He was the eight child of twelve children. Leo, along with his brother, Howard, lived and worked the family farm with their mother. Eventually they took it over in her later years.

Leo and Howard first raised short horn cattle and sheep. Later they raised Charolais and then Simmental cattle. They continuously tried to improve their herd.

Leo was the chore man. He stayed up in the yard, feeding and caring for the cattle. Leo knew his cows and the cows knew Leo. When they had sheep, Leo, was the one who cared for them. Leo also stepped in to take over the household chores when their mother was no longer able to do them.

Though Leo and Howard never married, they were both there for their nieces and nephews. They were there to listen, to help, and to guide.

After a long day of work, Leo and Howard enjoyed a beer or two and played a game of cards. Solo was the game.

The horseshoe cloverleaf, the grave marker for Leo, was made by his nephew, David Rooney. The horseshoes were purchased at Leo and Howard's farm auction. They were made into a shamrock to show both Leo and Howard's Irish heritage, which they were very proud of. Leo died of a heart attack and is buried by his parents, and brothers Howard and Edmund. His grandparents John and Mary Rooney and great grandmother Catharine Rooney, and many other relatives are buried in Padua.

9.
manRobert George Rooney‏
Born ‎22 Aug 1914 Raymond Township, Stearns County, Minnesota, died ‎26 Jun 1980 Raymond Township, Stearns County, Minnesota‎, age 65 years, buried Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minnesota
Catherine Rooney's husband, Andrew Anthony Majerus, was a sibling to the wife (Elizabeth Majerus) of her own brother, Robert George Rooney.

Robert Rooney and his wife Elizabeth Majerus farmed in rural Padua for 38 years before moving to Sauk Centre in 1976. Robert died at the home of his brother, Leo, near Padua, MN.

10.
man‎Howard Arnold Rooney‏‎
Born ‎13 Aug 1916 Raymond Township, Stearns County, Minnesota, died ‎9 Dec 1982 Raymond Township, Stearns County, Minnesota Event Description: Padua Cemetery, Stearns, Minnesota‎, age 66 years, buried Padua, Stearns County, Minnesota
Howard never married. He lived and worked on the same farm in Raymond Township all his life. He was knowledgeable of the family history. He died at age 66 of heart attack while in field harvesting corn.


Obituary, originally published St. Cloud Times, 11 Dec 1982:

ROONEY

PADUA - Funeral services for Howard A. Rooney, 66, rural Brooten, who died Thursday on his farm, will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Padua, with the Rev. Vincent Santo officiating.

Burial will be in the parish cemetery.

Friends may call at the Schad Funeral Home, Sauk Centre, after 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Parish prayers will be at 8 p.m. Sunday. Holy Name Society prayers will be at 8:30 p.m.

Mr. Rooney was born Aug. 13, 1916, in Raymond Township, Stearns County, to the late William and Helena (Reidel) Rooney. He never married. He lived and worked on the same farm in Raymond Township all his life. He was a member of the Holy Name Society, Padua, and St. Anthony's Catholic Church.

Survivors include brothers, Walter, Leo and Leonard, Roonten, and Emmett, Salem, Ore.; sisters, Mrs. Mary Ahles, St. Cloud; Mrs. Agnes Steinhoff, Shelby, Mont., and Mrs. Andrew (Marvel) Majerus, Portland, Ore.

Preceding him in death were his parents and four brothers.

Pallbearers will be Clarence, Dave, Dennis and Danny Rooney, Tim Ahles and Arnold Steinhoff.

(Cross Bearer was Mike Rooney. Honorary pallbearers were Don Moening, Arnold Leverson, Jerome Peters, Wilfred Arens, Richard Rooney, Jerome Ebensteiner, Jim Kenna, and Justin Paulson.

Originally published August 1998, Padua Cemetery, by Ginny Walz Borgerding

Howard Rooney was the son of William and Helena (Riedel) Rooney. He was the tenth child of twelve children. Howard, along with his brother, Leo, lived with their mother and helped with the family farm. Howard and Leo eventually took over the farm in their mother's later years.

Howard and Leo, first raised short horn cattle and sheep. They then went into raising Charolais, and later into raising Simmental cattle. They always worked towards bettering their herd.

Howard was the field man. He did all the planning of the crops. What to plant, where to plant, when they were ready to harvest, and when and where to sell them.

Howard never married, but both he and Leo always had time to listen. They were good mentors for their nieces and nephews. They were always there to help with a problem or to just listen.

After a long day of work, Leo and Howard enjoyed a beer or two and played a game of cards. Solo was the game.

The grave marker, a wooden Cross, was made for him by his nephew David Rooney. Howard died of a heart attack and is buried by his parents on one side and his brother Leo on the other. His brother Edmund, grandparents John and Mary Rooney, great grandmother Catharine Rooney, and many other relatives are buried in Padua.

11.
manLeonard Joseph Rooney‏
Born ‎19 Mar 1918 Raymond Township, Stearns County, Minnesota, died ‎13 Mar 1997 Glenwood, Pope County, Minnesota‎, age 78 years, buried ‎17 Mar 1997 Pope County, Minnesota
Leonard was born in Raymond township in Stearns county, baptized and confirmed in Padua, MN, attended grade school in Padua and high school in Brooten, MN and married Viola in Sedan, MN in 1945. They moved to Portland, OR in 1952, where Leonard worked in the ESCO Foundry Plant. They moved back to MN in 1955, farming until retiring in 1992. They lived in an apartment inBrooten, MN and later moved to Sedan, MN.
Leonard was the Bangor township treasurer, a church trustee for many years and sang in the choir.


Obituary:

Leonard J. Rooney, age 78, of Sedan, died Thursday morning at the Glacial Ridge Hospital, Glenwood.

Leonard was born in Raymond Township, Stearns County, on March 19, 1918, of the parents William and Helena (Riedel) Rooney. He was baptized and confirmed at Padua. He attended grade school at Padua and high school in Brooten. He married Viola Lokowitch on November 6, 1945, at the Church of the Immaculate Conception, officiated by Father Adolph Schmidt. In 1952, they moved to Portland, Oregon, where Leonard worked in the ESCO Foundry Plant. They moved back to Minnesota in 1955, farming until retiring in 1992. They lived in an apartment in Brooten until moving into Sedan in late December.

Leonard was the Bangor Township treasurer, a church trustee for many years and sang in the choir. He enjoyed being with and spending time with his grandchildren. He also enjoyed walking in the pasture and playing cards with his family.

Leonard is survived by his wife, Viola of Sedan, five sons, Ronald (Donna) of Emily, Thomas (Ruth) of Palo Verde, CA, Daniel of Rulo, NE, Timothy of Montrose, and Anthony (Sandra) of Sedan; three daughters, Carol Rooney of Brooten, Marilynn (Steven) Lysen of Benson, and Jean Rooney of Byron; 14 grandchildren, Andy, Stefanie, Jason, Dwayne, Weldon, Scott, Rusty, Kristi, Karla, John, Patrick, Jason, Amy and Nathan; six great-grandchildren, Nick, Donovan, Kyle, Brian, Sara and Alex; and sister, Agnes Steinhoff of St. Cloud.

He was preceded in death by his parents; eight brothers, Edmund, Joe, Felix, Walter, Emmett, Leo, Robert and Howard; two sisters, Mary Ahles and Marvel Majerus.

12.
womanCatherine Marvel "Marvel" Rooney‏
Born ‎29 Apr 1920 Raymond Township, Stearns County, Minnesota, died ‎6 May 1987 Clackamas County, Oregon‎, age 67 years, buried Happy Valley, Clackamas County, Oregon
Catherine Rooney's husband, Andrew Anthony Majerus, was a sibling to the wife (Elizabeth Majerus) of her own brother, Robert George Rooney.