I met Nel in 2002 at Thomsens Greenhouse where I had just moved to St. Cloud, we became immediate friends back then and stayed best of friends. Had many short road trips together visiting many different greenhouses and seeing my family in different parts of the state plus Wisconsin where she was accepted with Love. We celebrated birthdays and Holidays together for at least the last 17 years. Once a week since she retired from the greenhouse we would puzzle. So lucky to be part of such a an inspiring womens life for so many years.I loved her dearly and still will hold her in my heart.
Annella K. "Nel" (Rennie) Pfannenstein
June 2, 1929 – September 3, 2025
Annella “Nel” (Rennie) Pfannenstein, age 96, passed away on September 3, 2025, at her home in St. Joseph. Funeral services will be held in the St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Joseph, at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, followed by inurnment at the old cemetery next to her husband Dave. Visitation will commence one hour prior to the service in Heritage Hall.
Nel was born on June 2, 1929, to Joseph and Bertha (Stock) Rennie. She married David Pfannenstein on October 3, 1950, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Joseph. To this union were born three daughters: Mary (Merkling), Carole (Brown) and Judy (Fugate).
After her mother’s death at 45, and after her older sister left the home, Nel assumed household duties at the farm for her father, four brothers and two younger sisters. She received her high school diploma from Technical High School at the age of 39 by taking courses at the Area Learning Center, after which she took night classes and summer classes at St. Cloud State University, earning credits for three years of college.
Nel was employed by St. Cloud School District 742 as a paraprofessional for 21 years. After her retirement from the district, she worked at Thomsen Greenhouses for 25 years. She took to retirement slowly but eventually learned to relax and enjoy life outside of work.
Nel is honored as a mom, a wife, a seeker of knowledge. She loved to read books of all genres and became a self-educated rosarian and master gardener. Over the past decade, Nel continued her passion of puzzling with her best friends Nettie, Joanne and Staci. A 2000-piece puzzle was considered a breeze. She will truly be missed.
Nel is survived by her daughters Mary (Carl) Merkling, Eagle, CO; Carole Brown, Biddeford, ME; and Judy (Jerry) Fugate, Avon, MN. She is survived by grandchildren Ben Merkling, Molly O’Brien, Hattie Ninteau and Josh Brown and great grandchildren Zac, Tyler, Nora, Avery, Amelia, Desmond and Leila. Also surviving Nel is her sister Dorothy (Harold) Roske, Collegeville, MN. She leaves behind many friends, whom she loved dearly.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband David (1997), her sisters Bernadette Roske and Mary Zabinski and brothers Lawrence, Arthur, Norbert and Jerome Rennie.
Guestbook
I do not have words to truly express how I feel about Mary Jean’s, Carole’s and Judy’s dear Mom transitioning to her eternal resting place. She taught me how to make popcorn balls, what Welsh Rarebit was, how to knit, drove us kids to Kremer Lake in “the Klunk”, let us have pj parties (with lots of snacks)in the basement and on the back porch, etc., etc.. I finally got to help her find seashells and sharks’ teeth at the ocean! I loved keeping in touch with her all these years…..lots of great memories which are tributes to the amazing, loving, kind, purpose-driven life she led. I am blessed to have known her. May she rest in peace now.
Dear Family,
Nel was a pillar of strength and curiosity as well as a green thumb.
The memory of her family home in St. Joseph and her hospitality and the fun we had as children there will always be with me. Much love to Mary, Carol, Judy and family members. A life well lived.
Nel,and Dave,and the girls,,were very important to our family as we all grew up together on 1st Ave. plenty of memories,laughs,tears,,,but,,Nel always kept us all together,she will be missed,,,another Angel…..
Services
Schedule Details
Funeral services will be held in the St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Joseph, at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, followed by inurnment at the old cemetery next to her husband Dave.
Visitation will commence one hour prior to the service in Heritage Hall.