Date of Birth:
Sunday, November 24, 1929
Date of Death:
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Age:
95 years old

Cletus S. Pollack

We bid farewell to our dear father, Cletus S. Pollack, who departed from this world on August 27^th, 2025, at the age of 95. He died from metastatic liver cancer. He leaves behind a legacy of warmth and kindness. Dad walked through life with a gentle strength, touching the lives of everyone he encountered with an unforgettable grace. His death comes just 4 short months after the sudden death of his daughter and our sister, Jane.

Dad was born in Mankato, Minnesota, on November 24th, 1929. He grew up in Le Sueur, Minnesota on the family farm. It was on the farm that he learned every skill known to humankind. Dad could build or fix anything. One of his passion projects was restoring a 1957 Retractable Hardtop Ford Skyliner. He was unable to finish restoring it, but that may not have been the point. His engineering mind enjoyed problem-solving, especially if there was a specialized tool he could make as the solution. As a result of that and a myriad of other projects, he had an enviable collection of electronic, mechanical and woodworking tools. At 22, Dad joined the army and served 2 years at Camp Roberts in California. After the army he attended the Milwaukee School of Engineering. In 1956, an R&D division of IBM was built in Rochester, and Dad worked there from 1961 until his retirement in 1991. It was also in Rochester that he met our mother, Norma. They were married at St. John’s Catholic Church in Rochester in 1962. Dad was a farmer at heart, so they first lived on 40 acres outside of Rochester in Rock Dell. But eventually they wanted to be closer to town, so they moved to the house on Viola Road in 1967. Dad lived there until his final days.

Dad was a gentleman and a scholar. He enjoyed watching his “Great Courses” on CD. His favorite subjects were physics and mechanical engineering. He loved joyful things: dancing, music, a good joke and had a special fondness for puns. He loved puzzles and assembling intricate models, including a replica of Leonardo da Vinci’s flying machine for which he won first place at the State Fair. He was very committed to his Catholic faith and was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church since 1967.He spent many years delivering the Communion Host to those who were unable to leave their homes.

In his final days, as we were wrapping up Dad’s affairs around town, we got to see the impact he had on so many people.  Everywhere we went, there was someone he knew. He shared a laugh and a story with everyone. He was a longtime member of the Rochester Senior Center, the Korean War Veteran’s Club, for which he served as treasurer for many years, and was a regular at Grandma’s Kitchen. The outpouring of love for him has been tremendous.

Dad was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Dorothy, his brother Donald, his wife, Norma and his daughter, Jane. He is survived by his son, Steve, his daughter, Katie Vander Weit (George), grandson, Jacob Vander Weit (Becca), granddaughter, Rachel Vander Weit (Alfredo), his brother, John, his sister, Rita Schultz (Jim), and many nieces and nephews.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff at Seasons Hospice House in Rochester. You are all truly angels on earth.

A Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 8, 2025, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 1114 3^rd Street SE, Rochester, Minnesota. Visitation will be from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. Sunday, September 7, 2025, in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home, 1105 12^th Street SE, Rochester, Minnesota, and one hour prior to the Mass at the St. Francis on the 8^th. Lunch will be served at the church following Mass.

Interment will be at 2:00 p.m. Monday, September 8, 2025, at Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery, 715 Hwy 52, Preston, Minnesota. All are welcome to attend.

Please direct all donations to the Ronald McDonald House of Rochester, 850 2^nd St. SW, Rochester, MN 55902

Online condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com