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    Renneke, Earl W.

    Sessions Served    Other Information

    Senate 1969-72 (District 15); Senate 1973-81 (District 23); Senate 1982-92 (District 35)

    Party when first elected:  Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus

    Counties Served:  Blue Earth, Carver, Le Sueur, McLeod, Nicollet, Scott, Sibley

    BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION

    Date of Birth: 3/10/1928
    Birth Place: Saint Peter, Minnesota
    Birth County: Nicollet
    Birth Country: United States
    Date of Death: 3/3/2021
    Gender: Male
    Religion: Lutheran
    Reported Minority: None Reported
    Other Names:
    City of Residence (when first elected): Le Sueur
    Occupation (when first elected): Farmer

    EDUCATION

    Gaylord High School; Secondary; Graduate
    University of Minnesota; Attended College;

    OTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICE

    FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS

    Spouse: Majorie Eckberg (married in 1951)
    Children: Three children: Rochelle, Lynnette, and Kristin (daughters)
    Family Members Who Have Served in the Minnesota Legislature:

    GENERAL NOTES

    Special Legislative Concerns: agriculture, natural resources, corrections, education.

    He was a member of the Republican Party.

    Religion provided by the Catholic Bulletin, 3/21/1975.

    He is interred in Scandian Grove Lutheran Church cemetery in Norseland, Minnesota.

    Most recent term photo
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    Total Days Served: 8673

    SESSIONS SERVED

    77th Legislative Session (1991-1992)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1991
    Body: Senate
    District: 35
    Elected: 11/6/1990
    Residence: Le Sueur
    Term of Office: 1/7/1991 to 1/3/1993
    Oath Date: 1/8/1991
    Counties Represented: Carver, McLeod, Sibley
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Rural Development
    • Agriculture and Rural Development: Joint Agriculture and Rural Development/Environment and Natural Resources Ad Hoc
    • Agriculture and Rural Development: Rural Development
    • Finance
    • Finance: Agriculture/Transportation/Regulation Division
    • Finance: Health and Human Services Division
    • Governmental Operations
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Bill Referral
    • Veterans and General Legislation
    term photo
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    76th Legislative Session (1989-1990) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1989
    Body: Senate
    District: 35
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: Le Sueur
    Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/6/1991
    Oath Date: 1/6/1987
    Counties Represented: Carver, McLeod, Sibley
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Rural Development
    • Agriculture and Rural Development: Agricultural Credit
    • Agriculture and Rural Development: Rural Development
    • Finance
    • Finance: Health and Human Services Division
    • Finance: State Departments Division
    • Governmental Operations
    • Local and Urban Government
    • Local and Urban Government: Land Use, Zoning and Planning
    • Rules and Administration

    75th Legislative Session (1987-1988)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1987
    Body: Senate
    District: 35
    Elected: 11/4/1986
    Residence: Le Sueur
    Term of Office: 1/5/1987 to 1/6/1991
    Oath Date: 1/6/1987
    Counties Represented: Carver, McLeod, Sibley
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Agriculture: Agriculture Credit
    • Agriculture: Agriculture Products/Processing
    • Finance
    • Finance: Health and Human Services Division
    • Governmental Operations
    • Local and Urban Government
    • Local and Urban Government: Land Use, Zoning and Planning
    • Rules and Administration

    74th Legislative Session (1985-1986) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/8/1985
    Body: Senate
    District: 35
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Le Sueur
    Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/4/1987
    Oath Date: 1/4/1983
    Counties Represented: Carver, McLeod, Sibley
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Finance
    • Finance: Education
    • Finance: Health and Human Services
    • Governmental Operations
    • Local and Urban Government
    • Local and Urban Government: Land Use, Planning and Zoning
    • Local and Urban Government: Urban Government
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Bill Scheduling
    term photo
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    73rd Legislative Session (1983-1984)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1983
    Body: Senate
    District: 35
    Elected: 11/2/1982
    Residence: Le Sueur
    Term of Office: 1/3/1983 to 1/4/1987
    Oath Date: 1/4/1983
    Counties Represented: Carver, McLeod, Sibley
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Finance
    • Finance: Education
    • Finance: Health and Human Services
    • Governmental Operations
    • Local and Urban Government
    • Local and Urban Government: Urban Government
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Bill Scheduling

    72nd Legislative Session (1981-1982)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/6/1981
    Body: Senate
    District: 23
    Elected: 11/4/1980
    Residence: Le Sueur
    Term of Office: 1/5/1981 to 1/2/1983
    Oath Date: 1/6/1981
    Counties Represented: Blue Earth, Le Sueur, McLeod, Nicollet, Scott, Sibley
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Elections and Reapportionment
    • Finance
    • Finance: Education
    • Finance: Health, Welfare and Corrections
    • Public Employees and Pensions
    • Rules and Administration
    • Rules and Administration: Bill Scheduling
    term photo
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    71st Legislative Session (1979-1980) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/3/1979
    Body: Senate
    District: 23
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: Le Sueur
    Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 1/4/1981
    Oath Date: 1/4/1977
    Counties Represented: Blue Earth, Le Sueur, McLeod, Nicollet, Scott, Sibley
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Agriculture
    • Finance
    • Finance: Education
    • Finance: Health, Welfare and Corrections
    • Governmental Operations
    • Governmental Operations: Personnel
    • Joint Agriculture and Natural Resources/Governmental Operations/Local Government/Taxes and Tax Laws/Transportation: Agricultural Land Preservation
    • Local Government

    70th Legislative Session (1977-1978)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/4/1977
    Body: Senate
    District: 23
    Elected: 11/2/1976
    Residence: Le Sueur
    Term of Office: 1/3/1977 to 1/4/1981
    Oath Date: 1/4/1977
    Counties Represented: Blue Earth, Le Sueur, McLeod, Nicollet, Scott, Sibley
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Independent Republican
    Committees:
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources
    • Agriculture and Natural Resources: Agriculture
    • Finance
    • Finance: Education
    • Finance: Health, Welfare and Corrections
    • Governmental Operations
    • Governmental Operations: Employee Benefits
    • Local Government
    term photo
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    69th Legislative Session (1975-1976) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/1975
    Body: Senate
    District: 23
    Elected: 11/7/1972
    Residence: Le Sueur
    Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 1/2/1977
    Oath Date: 1/2/1973
    Counties Represented: Blue Earth, Le Sueur, McLeod, Nicollet, Scott, Sibley
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Independent Republican Caucus
    Committees:
    • Finance
    • Finance: Claims
    • Finance: State Departments I
    • Health, Welfare and Corrections
    • Health, Welfare and Corrections: Corrections
    • Natural Resources and Agriculture
    • Natural Resources and Agriculture: Water Resources

    68th Legislative Session (1973-1974)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/2/1973
    Body: Senate
    District: 23
    Elected: 11/7/1972
    Residence: Le Sueur
    Term of Office: 1/1/1973 to 1/2/1977
    Oath Date: 1/2/1973
    Counties Represented: Blue Earth, Le Sueur, McLeod, Nicollet, Scott, Sibley
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Finance
    • Finance: Administrative State Departments
    • Finance: Joint Claims
    • Health, Welfare and Corrections
    • Health, Welfare and Corrections: Corrections
    • Natural Resources and Agriculture
    • Natural Resources and Agriculture: Water Resources
    term photo
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    67th Legislative Session (1971-1972)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/5/1971
    Body: Senate
    District: 15
    Elected: 11/3/1970
    Residence: Le Sueur
    Term of Office: 1/4/1971 to 12/31/1972
    Oath Date: 1/5/1971
    Counties Represented: McLeod, Nicollet, Sibley
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Corrections and Commitments
    • Elections and Reapportionment
    • Health and Welfare
    • Labor Relations
    • Local Government

    66th Legislative Session (1969-1970) (second half of Senate term)

      Session Details   Convened Date: 1/7/1969
    Body: Senate
    District: 15
    Elected: 3/25/1969
    Residence: Le Sueur
    Term of Office: 4/7/1969 to 1/3/1971 (Special Election)
    Oath Date: 4/7/1969
    Counties Represented: McLeod, Nicollet, Sibley
    Occupation: Farmer
    Party: Nonpartisan Election-Conservative Caucus
    Committees:
    • Agriculture
    • Commerce
    • Elections and Reapportionment
    • Labor
    • Public Welfare
    Session Notes: He won the special election held due to the death of Harold Popp. He was sworn in on April 7, 1969.
    term photo
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    OTHER INFORMATION

    News Sources

    The Library maintains newspaper clippings on individual legislators during their terms. Clippings are available from 1973 to the present in a variety of formats: 1973-1999, microfiche available at the Library; 2000-2009, scanned in yearly compilations and digitally available on the legislative network; 2009-present, archived in a searchable database maintained by the Library and available on the legislative network.
    These files are available in the Legislative Reference Library.

    Photographs

    Swearing-in ceremony in the Senate Chamber during the opening day of the 1987 legislative session, St. Paul, Minnesota. 1/6/1987. Photo credit: Senate Media ServicesThis image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library..
    Senator Earl Renneke and Senator Richard Fitzsimons in a committee hearing, St. Paul, Minnesota. c. 1976. Photo credit: Senate Media ServicesThis image was scanned from the files of the Minnesota Senate Photographer with the generous help of the Minnesota Digital Library..

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