Walter "Wally" Leo Krenik

Walter “Wally” Leo Krenik, age 89, of Cleveland, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at the Lutheran Home in Belle Plaine.

Walter was born on April 18, 1936, on the family farm in rural Le Center to Benjamin and Martha (Wieland) Krenik. He attended Le Center Public Schools and graduated with the Class of 1954. In 1958, Wally married Millicent Tiede, and shared 39 years together while raising their family.

Wally worked a variety of jobs throughout his life. He owned and operated his own auto repair shop in Cleveland from 1959 to 1970, and later held maintenance, research and development roles with several companies. He concluded his career with a 20-year tenure in the maintenance department at St. Peter Hospital and Health Care Center, retiring in 1998.

Wally had a lifelong passion for working with motors. He loved restoring motorcycles—especially ones that had been wrecked—and was particularly proud of restoring his grandfather’s 1939 Ford Coupe, which he proudly exhibited at car roll-ins across southern Minnesota, earning numerous awards. An avid motorcyclist, he continued riding until the age of 84. He approached every non-working engine as a personal challenge.

On June 2, 2006, Wally married Iris Moeschl. Together, they made their home on their own little “Ponderosa” in rural Cleveland. They enjoyed winters in Mission, Texas, and spent years traveling and camping across the United States with the Dry Riders motorcycle group until 2016.

Wally served as a volunteer firefighter with the Cleveland Fire Department for 21 years. He was a member of the Dry Riders Motorcycle Club for 18 years and a long-time member of the Church of the Nativity in Cleveland.

He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Iris; daughters: Tammy (Tim) Reinert of Becker, DeNell (Keith) Kern of Belle Plaine, and Brenda (Tom) Weber of Burnsville; stepdaughters: Gina Massop of Amboy, Dawn (Kelly) Sandborg of St. Clair, and Erin (Dennis) Clough of Mapleton; 21 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; brother, Tom (Shirley) Krenik sister-in-law, Janet Krenik; as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Wally was preceded in death by his parents; son, Michael Krenik; sisters, Darlene (Richard) Lodge and Jane Krenik; brothers, Roger Krenik and Marlin (Kathy) Krenik; great-grandson, Silas Lower; stepson, Nels “Oly” Olsen; step son-in-law, Tom Massop; former wife, Millicent Krenik.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 19, 2025, at the Church of the Nativity in Cleveland. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Cleveland.

SchoenbauerFuneralHome.com