Kevin Krenke, 64, Claremont
Kevin Todd Krenke, 64, of Claremont, passed away unexpectedly at his home on June 22, 2026.
He was born on June 10, 1962, to Edward Krenke and Norma (Bendorf) Krenke. Kevin attended school in Owatonna and graduated from Owatonna Senior High School in 1980.
On June 14, 1980, he married Kimberly (Rosecke) Esparza. They were married for 17 years and later divorced. Together, they raised three children: Ryan, Stephanie, and Lisa.
Kevin worked with Scott Hamilton in commercial painting for roughly 10 years. He then moved to another commercial painting company, Apex, and continued with them for more than 30 years until retiring in September 2025. Painting was his life, and he always enjoyed what he was doing, whether it was a large or small building, a water tower, or an airplane statue at the airport that he sandblasted and painted. It could have been 80 to 200 feet off the ground, and you would have found him hanging from it to complete the job. He enjoyed the travel required for his work when projects took him out of state. There was usually something new for him to see or do, and Kevin always had a story or two to share when he returned home.
Back in the day, you would have found him at home on the farm, working in the shed on vehicles or farm equipment for family, friends, or neighbors who needed repairs or repainting. He took pride in what he did for others, and it showed in the quality of his work. He loved working with his hands in his downtime. You could find him remodeling his house to meet his expectations or tinkering in the garage, trying to fix something that may or may not have needed fixing, all while shooting the breeze with anyone who happened to stop by.
Kevin enjoyed spending time with his children and family, especially his grandchildren. He had a soft spot for them and loved watching them grow up. He also enjoyed spending time with friends and family, whether at birthday parties, holiday gatherings, or get-togethers that involved playing cards late into the night while eating, laughing, and having fun.
He is survived by his children, Ryan Krenke and Lisa (Jesse) Sexter; his son-in-law, Alex Wilson; and his grandchildren, Christopher Sexter, Diamond Sexter, and Carter Wilson, of whom he was very proud. He is also survived by his parents, Edward and Norma Krenke, and his sister, Juanita Wiuff.
Kevin was preceded in death by his daughter, Stephanie Wilson, and his grandparents.
Friends may greet the family on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Brick-Meger Funeral Home in Owatonna for a time of remembrance. A graveside service will follow at 12 p.m. at St. John Cemetery.