The Durrenberger Family of Primisweiler, Allgau Region, Württemberg, Germany

Star Tribune: Newspaper of the Twin Cities (Minneapolis, MN) - March 22, 1997

George Durenberger dies at age 90. He served as the athletic director at St. John's University for 41 years.

George Durenberger first visited St. John's University in Collegeville, Minn., in 1924 when he enrolled as a freshman. He was still there nearly five decades later - after a career of playing, coaching and promoting athletics and physical fitness.

Durenberger, 90, the school's athletic director for 41 years, died Thursday in St. Cloud. He was the father of David Durenberger, former U.S. senator from Minnesota.

The elder Durenberger wore a variety of hats at the school, many simultaneously. As a player, he was the school's first athlete to be named all-conference for three years in football, and lettered four years in basketball.

After graduating, he became head basketball coach, an assistant in football and a staff member of the Liturgical Press. At age 25 he was named athletic director while also acting as head coach at various times in football, basketball and track. He also taught physical education courses and was an English and business instructor at St. John's prep school.

He also found time to get a master's degree from the University of Minnesota and serve in civic and church organizations.

In the late 1950s he was a member of the state advisory committee to the U.S. Civil Rights Commission, the President's White House Youth Commission and the Governor's Committee on Physical Fitness.

"He was one of the first to advocate physical fitness for all students, not just the ballplayers," said his wife, Isabelle. "He was always saying, 'A healthy body promotes a healthy mind.' And he promoted physical fitness for the women at St. Ben's, too." The College of St. Benedict is a companion school to St. John's. Durenberger and his wife spent much of their time in Florida after he retired in 1972.

Besides his wife, he is survived by three sons, David, of Minneapolis and Washington, D.C.; George Mark, of Eden Prairie, and Thomas, of Cottage Grove; two daughters, Constance Kneip, of Sussex, Wis., and Mary McLeod, of Dallas; nine grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. John's Abbey Church in Collegeville, with visitation at 9 a.m.

Obituary of Isabelle Marie Cebulla
Minnespolis Star Tibune, December 28, 2008
Durenberger, Isabelle Marie Cebulla Passed away December 24th in her residence at Catholic Eldercare in Minneapolis where she lived the last nine years with loving caregivers.

Isabelle was born to Ferdinand J. (Fred) Cebulla, master car builder with the Great Northern Railway, and Josephine (Jessie) Pukrop Cebulla in Great Falls, MT. August 9, 1911. She lived in Superior, WI, attended Duluth Cathedral High School, the College of St. Benedict's, and graduated St. Theresa's College in Winona in 1932. She taught business in the Gillette, WI high school until she married George Gephard Durenberger, and moved to St. John's University where he was Athletic Director and coach until his 1972 retirement. George passed away in March 1997 at 90.

Isabelle spent many years on the staff at St. John's and in church and community service. She helped found the St. John's University Alumni Association and the St. Cloud Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. She loved to travel and visit her many Polish relatives.

Isabelle is survived by five children, David F. (and Susan B Foote) of St. Paul, Constance J. of Sussex, WI, George Mark (and Barbara) of Edina, Thomas (and Barbara) of Mesquite, NV., and Mary (and John) McLeod of Oklahoma City, OK. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren. An internment service will be held at 10 AM Saturday January 3rd, at St. John's Abbey Church with internment at the St. John's Abbey Cemetery in Collegeville. A celebratory gathering will follow at St. John the Baptist Parish Center. Memorials are preferred to Catholic ElderCare at 817 Main Street NE, Minneapolis, MN. 55413. Arrangements entrusted with the Wenner Funeral Home, Cold Spring, MN (320) 685-7762.