A St. Thomas trustee and visionary for the university’s Minneapolis campus growth, Gerald Rauenhorst, died Thursday at the age of 86, after 69 years of involvement with the university.

Vice President of University and Government Relations Doug Hennes said among his contributions to the university, Rauenhorst was heavily involved in the construction of St. Thomas’ Minneapolis campus.

“I think one of the things he was proudest of was his involvement on the Minneapolis campus,” Hennes said. “I know he was very proud of how that campus developed.”

Rauenhorst enrolled as a freshman at St. Thomas in 1945 and graduated with a degree in economics. He then attended Marquette University where he received an engineering degree. Rauenhorst founded the Opus Group and served on the board of trustees between 1966 and 2012. The Opus Group has participated in the design or construction of 22 St. Thomas buildings.

Rauenhorst was a close friend and adviser of former St. Thomas President the Rev. Dennis Dease.

“For all his greatness–and he was truly a great man–he never came across as anything more than a common man and your next-door neighbor,” Dease said in a statement to the university. “He was a caring person, and his family and his faith were his two great loves.”

Hennes said Rauenhorst will be missed.

“People are going to miss a lot of things,” Hennes said. “They’re going to miss his wisdom, they’re going to miss his insight, they’re going to miss his common sense.”

In a statement to the university, President Julie Sullivan said Rauenhorst was an asset to the university.

“Gerry played a significant role in the development of St. Thomas as a comprehensive university,” Sullivan said. “He was a visionary and trusted adviser, and he displayed wisdom, common sense and a charming sense of humor in everything he did.”

Mass of Christian Burial will take place May 6 at Our Lady of Grace church in Edina. Memorials can be sent to St. Thomas’ Opus College of Business, Marquette University’s College of Engineering Opus Scholars program, or the Mayo Clinic’s Center on Aging.

Grace Pastoor can be reached at past6138@stthomas.edu.