Gary Roland

1944 - 2018

Gary Roland

Ashwaubenon - Gary Adam Roland, age 73, Ashwaubenon, died Wednesday, January 17, 2018. He was born August 27, 1944 to Adam Roland and Roxanna (Roland) VanLandghen at Bellin Hospital in Green Bay, WI. He was the fifth of six children.

For his first seven years, he lived on a farm in Ashwaubenon. His family then moved on Oneida Street in Green Bay. Gary attended Cormier School and Jackson Elementary School for grades 1 - 8. He then continued at Franklin Middle School and graduated from Green Bay West High School in 1963. He was in choirs and talent shows during this time. After graduating, he worked several different jobs, including Oshkosh Trucking, Tidy Laundry, and Murphy Cement. He spent the rest of his life in various aspects of building, mostly as a finish carpenter. He built his first home as a bachelor and later built the home on Sunny Creek Drive.

Gary's main love was music. As a charter member of Calvary Lutheran Church, he sang over 50 years in the choirs and was one of the two people who started the "Boys Choir". Through the years, he accompanied on guitar. He was in a band in the mid to late 60's called the Infiniters. They played at the Bay Beach Pavilion and other teen hangouts at that time. He and his friend, Don Kanugh, formed a band with just the two of them called "Him and Me". Gary played guitar and Don played accordion. They played at local bars, weddings, class reunions, and other special occasions.

Another interest was hunting. He hunted deer and turkey with crossbow, black powder, and rifle. He spent many hours at the hunting shack teaching his sons to hunt. Gary met the love of his life, Anita Torkelson, on a "blind date" in October of 1971. The date was to a Packer/Viking football game. They were engaged two weeks after they met and were married on June 10th, 1972. They have had a marvelous life together for 45 years. They raised two sons, Robert and Garrick. The family enjoyed many trips together throughout the United States and Europe. As a family, they were very involved with their sons' lives, following them through scouting, music, high school football, and swimming, just to name a few. His family meant all the world to him.

Gary is survived by his wife, Anita; his sons, Robert and daughter-in-law, Andrea of Champlin, MN and Garrick and his girlfriend, Melissa Favorito of St. Charles, MO; and the joy of his life, grandsons, Henry Adam Roland and Samuel Paul Roland. He is further survived by his brother, Donald Roland, Mountain; sisters and brothers-in-law, Bonnie (James) Haverkorn, LaVonne Carpenter, Sonya (Wayne) Black, and Diane (Bob) Link, all of Green Bay and Diana Torkelson, Altoona and Dale and Mary Jo Torkelson, Black River Falls; and many very special nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Gary is preceded in death by his dear father, Adam, and his mother, Roxanna, and his two brothers-in-law, Robert and Kenneth Torkelson.

Visitation for Gary will be held on Saturday, January 20, 2018 from 9:00 am until the funeral service at 11:00 am with Pastor Earl Vorpagel III officiating at Calvary Lutheran Church, 1301 South Ridge Road, Green Bay. Interment will follow at a later date at Beaver Creek Lutheran Church Cemetery, Taylor, WI. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Gary may be shared with his family on his tribute page at www.lyndahl.com.

A special thank you to dear friends and family who have supported Gary and family with their concern, support, and prayers during the past year.