The funeral service for Gordon Kenneth Koenig will be at 1:30 p.m. on Friday, December 19th, at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oronoco, with Pastor Ben Kempfert officiating. Burial will be in the Oronoco Cemetery following the service. Friends and family may visit from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 18th, at Schleicher Funeral Homes, Plainview Chapel in Plainview, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.

Gordon Koenig was born to Alex & Ella Koenig in Rochester, MN on October 17, 1940. He died at Mayo Clinic Hospital – Rochester, Saint Marys Campus on Monday, December 15, 2014 more than five years after being diagnosed with Waldenstrom's Macroglobulonemia – a rare type of blood/bone marrow cancer. He was baptized at Grace Lutheran Church in Oronoco, MN and was a life-long member of Grace church. He grew up on a farm in rural Olmsted County and attended grade school at the local one-room country school. Gordon graduated from Rochester High School in 1958. On June 7, 1961 Gordon and Bonnie (Bonita) Fenske were married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Elgin, MN.

Gordon farmed most of his adult life. Later he was employed for several years as a maintenance person at an apartment complex in Rochester. Over the years, he enjoyed league bowling, playing 500 with the "card club", was an avid snowmobiler and was particularly proud that he had obtained his private pilot license. He was active in his church serving at various times; as an usher, on the financial committee and sang in the choir. In 1980 Gordon & Bonnie purchased a cabin in northern Minnesota at Waskish on Upper Red Lake. Gordon remodeled the cabin over the years and enjoyed many trips there for walleye fishing and just relaxing on the dock. He will be remembered as an easy going and extremely patient man who always put others before himself. He found particular joy in his grandchildren, and the Somali children at the apartment complex.

In addition to his wife, Gordon is survived by a son, Kenneth (Pat) Koenig of Bend, Oregon; a daughter, Susan (Mike) Zincke of Rochester; grandchildren Jackie (Lee) Griego of Sahuarita, Arizona, John St. John & Kenan Koenig of Bend, Oregon, Haley & Tucker Zincke of Rochester as well as great-grandchildren, Elle & Patrick Griego. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Caroline Fenske of Elgin, brother-in-law, Russell (Sandy) Fenske of Elgin, sister-in-law Delores Cowden of Pine Island, a host of close friends and other family member including a brother and sister. He was preceded in death by his parents, his father-in-law, Walter Fenske, and brother-in-law Claude (Tom) Cowden, and an uncle.

The family is especially grateful for the skilled and compassionate care provided by Dr. Morie Gertz and the staff of his hematology care team as well as the staff at Mayo's chemotherapy treatment unit, the infusion therapy center, and at 6MB-G6 ICU at St. Mary's hospital. Finally a special "Thank You" to every blood donor who unselfishly gives what is truly a "gift of life" to strangers in need.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to Mayo Clinic Blood Cancer research or to Grace Lutheran Church.