Michael "Mike" Charles Rooney, age 83, of Benson, Minnesota passed away on May 14, 2015, at the St. Cloud Hospital. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am, Tuesday, May 19, 2015, at the St. Francis Catholic Church in Benson. Visitation will be held Monday, May 18, 2015, from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, with a Rosary at 4:30 pm and a Prayer Service at 7:00 pm, at St. Francis Catholic Church. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. Michael "Mike" Charles Rooney was born on November 4, 1931 in Appleton, MN, son of George and Muriel (McLaughlin) Rooney. He graduated from Appleton High School in 1949 and served his country in the United States Air Force during the Korean War, stationed in the Philippines and Formosa (Taiwan). Mike attended the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul. He married Virginia (Kashmark) in 1958 and soon moved to Benson where he and his brother, Richard "Dick" Rooney, opened Rooney Ford together. He served his community as Benson Postmaster from 1964 to his retirement in 1993 and was elected president of the Minnesota chapter of National Association of Postmasters of the United States (NAPUS) in 1973. Mike was a longtime active member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church and volunteer firefighter with the Benson Fire Department. He served on the Board of the Swift County Developmental Achievement Center for many years, was a member of the Benson Jaycees, an active member of VFW Post 1403 and the American Legion, a proud Irish-American and a lover of music. He was a member of the St. Francis Xavier Church choir, sang barbershop with the Montevideo Fiesta City Chorus, and to the delight of friends, never turned down a request to sing a song, often accompanying himself on the ukulele. Mike passed away on Thursday afternoon, May 14, 2015 at St. Cloud Hospital and will be missed dearly. Mike is survived by beloved friend and companion, Julie Urke; six children: Theresa Rooney (Simon Wong) of Seattle, WA, Robert (Lori) Rooney of Benson, Marie Rooney of Minneapolis, Ann Kolden of Morris, Thomas Rooney of Woodbury, and James Rooney of Benson; four grandchildren: Rachel Lillis (and Trevor) of Perham, Sarah Kolden of Le Sueur, Daniel Kolden of Morris, and Nadine Rooney of St. Paul; and four great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a nephew, three nieces, grand nephews, grand nieces, cousins and other relatives and many dear friends. He was preceded in death by his wife, Virginia, his parents, and his brothers, Robert and Richard.
