John Rohlk

 

    John Jr. Rohlk, the son of John and Lillie (Wiese) Rohlk, was born August 1st, 1927 in Holstein, IA.  He was the fifth of thirteen children.  Brother Larry passed in infancy.  His childhood years were spent in Holstein and later in Highview.  After his education, he helped on the family farm as many young men did during the depression era.

    In 1945, he joined the Army and was stationed in Alaska helping to tear down barracks no longer needed.  He served out his enlistment and returned home where he met his future wife, Connie, and married in 1950 in Truesdale, IA.  They purchased a home in Storm Lake and started a family.  John supported his family working in the meatpacking industry for 30 years.  Upon the closing of the Hygrade plant, he began working with his brother Kenny and Paul Park construction.

   John enjoyed hunting and fishing; teaching his two sons to love the sport as well.  He and Connie took great pleasure in taking their children on vacations every summer to the sights west of the Mississippi. 

    John was an avid woodworker, creating furniture for the Rohlk home.  He mastered the art of Intarsia, a form of wood inlay and received many awards at the Clay County Fair over the years.

    John and Connie spent their summers at their lake home on West Lake Okoboji and their winters in Mesa, AZ at Tower Point Resort enjoying friends and family.

    The couple purchased a town house in Spencer in 2014 and upon Connie’s passing in 2020, John lived independently for the next 3 years.

    He passed away at the Spencer Hospital on Monday July 3rd, 2023 at the age of 95.

    Left to cherish his memory are his children Linda (Warren) Norgrant of  Lake City, IA; Doug Rohlk (Andrea Bruns) of Mankato, MN; and Mark (Sally) Rohlk of Phoenix, AZ; 7 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren; special friends and neighbors, Buzz and Dee Butler of Spencer, IA, and many other friends and relatives.