Dennis Newinski (Minnesota State Representative, 1944—2009)

Dennis Newinski, a career machinist, was known as a positive man of strong beliefs. Because of his strong and inspiring character, for friends and relatives encouraged him to run for political office. In 1990, he successfully ran for a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives and served one term. In 1994, Newinski ran for the US House of Representatives and nearly took the seat from Congressman Bruce Vento. Tragically, Vento also was diagnosed with mesothelioma and died of the disease in 2000. Newinski unsuccessfully tried for a seat in Congress in 1996 and 1998.

For 32 years, Dennis Newinski worked as a machinist for Northern States Power. Because of the asbestos exposure he suffered as a machinist, Newinski developed the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma. He was diagnosed in 2007 and spent the last years of his life continuing his strong faith in the Roman Catholic Church, speaking of his enduring faith and the expressing the peace he felt about his condition.

In the last years of his life Newinski was honored in several ways by the country and the community. In 2008 he was asked to give the invocation at the State Republican Convention and also to serve as an alternative delegate at the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota. Furthermore, Newinski was given the Navigator Award as Man of the Year by the North St. Paul Knights of Columbus in 2008.

Dennis Newinski is remembered for his love of God and his family, as well as his passion for acting and the outdoors. Newinski taught classes to high school students, served as a Boy Scout leader and was an active member of the Church of St. Peter in St. Paul. Newinski died at the age of 64, in his home in Maplewood Minnesota in February of 2009. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Sharie, his two daughters, two sons, five brothers and nine grandchildren.