Man's death on his southern Minnesota farm ruled a homicide

Officials say that someone killed a man whose body was found on his southern Minnesota farm property last week.

A 911 call to the Sibley County Sheriff's Office on Sept. 20 sent law enforcement and emergency medical personnel to the farm of Dennis D. Weitzenkamp, 79, about a mile north of Winthrop in the 54100 block of 266th Street.

There they found his body, which was taken to the Midwest Medical Examiner's Office in Anoka County. The autopsy "confirmed that the death is a homicide," a Sheriff's Office statement on Friday read.

The Medical Examiner's Office declined Monday to say how Weitzenkamp was killed, explaining in a statement that "this is considered an open investigation by the Sibley County Sheriff's Office and the MN Bureau of Criminal Apprehension."

Law enforcement has yet to disclose a possible motive, and no arrests have been announced.

The Sheriff's Office wants anyone with information about this case to call 507-237-4330.

According to his online obituary, Weitzenkamp moved to the Winthrop area in 1998 and continued to farm. He enjoyed "watching sports, playing cards, bowling, traveling with family, driving truck and wintering in Florida," his obituary said.

Weitzenkamp's funeral was held Monday at the Winthrop Evangelical Covenant Church. Interment in the Winthrop Cemetery followed and included a military honor guard. He joined the National Guard in 1964 and served in the Army for one year starting in 1968, during the Vietnam War.

He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Karen; stepchildren Randy Malecek, Kim Larsen, Greg Malecek, Dana Wilson and Jason Malecek; 13 grandchildren; sisters Darlene Mueller and Joyce Weitzenkamp; and brother David Weitzenkamp.