Eldon Oscar "Cotton" Rothe

Eldon Oscar “Cotton” Rothe, 73, of Effingham, formerly of Watson and St. Peter, died at 6:10 p.m. Friday, July 4, 2008, at home. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Peter Lutheran Church, St. Peter, with the Rev. William Emrick officiating. Burial will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at Pagel Funeral Home, St. Peter, and one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. Memorials may be made to St. Peter Lutheran Church or St. Peter Area Cancer Support Group. Mr. Rothe was born April 17, 1935, in St. Peter, the son of Oscar and Verna (VonBehren) Rothe. He married Beverley Wasmuth Jan. 1, 1955, in the Augsburg area of rural Fayette County. Mr. Rothe was co-owner and operator of a Chevrolet and John Deere dealership in St. Peter and Farina for more than 30 years. He also was involved in farming. Prior to his retirement in 1997, he was an over-the-road trucker for 10 years. Mr. Rothe was a lifelong member of St. Peter Lutheran Church, St. Peter. Survivors include his wife, Beverley of Effingham; son, Jay (wife, Kelly) Rothe of St. Peter; daughters, Jody (husband, Keith) Storck of Farina and Jan Jameson of St. Peter; brother, Leon Rothe of Odin; and grandchildren, Katie (husband, Corey) Lotz, Clint Storck, Scarlett Jameson and Justy and Jaci Rothe. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Keith Rothe; and son-in-law, Robert Jameson.