Bobby Vee, a pioneer of rock ‘n’ roll, died Oct. 24 at age 73 after battling Alzheimer’s disease.

The international recording star was diagnosed with the illness in 2012 and was under hospice care at a facility in Rogers, Minn., at the time of his death.

His musical career included 38 hit singles that included some of his most famous songs – “Rubber Ball,” “Take Good Care of My Baby,” and “The Night Has a Thousand Eyes.”

Professionally, Vee had his first big opportunity in 1959 when he and his band, The Shadows, were called in unexpectedly to play at the Winter Dance Party tour in Moorhead, Minn. Vee filled in for Buddy Holly after he, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson were killed the previous day in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa.

A funeral Mass was celebrated Nov. 2 at St. John’s Abbey and University Church in Collegeville.

Vee, born Robert Thomas Velline, was a native of Fargo, North Dakota. He and his wife, Karen, moved to Watab Lake in Minnesota and attended St. John the Baptist parish, Collegeville, where Benedictine Father Eugene McGlothlin eventually was pastor.

Father McGlothlin was a close friend of Vee’s family for almost 50 years. He spent numerous Christmases with the family, which includes their four children, Jeff, Tommy, Robert and Jennifer. He also visited their family’s vacation home in Tucson, Arizona.

Karen died in August 2015 of complications from lung disease.

“He had a very strong faith,” said Father McGlothlin. “I learned from him how to be accepting of everyone and to always have something good to say about everyone.”

“Bob always did that,” he said. “He was a wonderful man. Most people knew him from his popularity. To me, his humility was outstanding. He had acclaim, but he kept all his old friends. I was very proud of him.”

Over the years, Vee and his family helped with many fundraisers for Catholic education. Their cumulative in-kind gifts over the years totaled over $1 million.