LeRoy Rowedder

LeRoy John Rowedder, age 92, lifelong resident of Wall Lake passed away Wednesday morning, Jan 22, 2025, at his current home in Ankeny, IA. LeRoy was born on October 4, 1932 in Mapleton, Iowa, the son of George and Helma (Else) Rowedder. He was baptized on October 20, 1932 by Pastor August Rueber in Mapleton. The family moved to Wall Lake in 1933 when his Dad purchased the blacksmith shop where LeRoy learned the welding trade and business from his Dad. A member of Peace Lutheran Church, LeRoy was confirmed on June 1, 1947 by Pastor Fritz. He was an active member of Peace Lutheran Church serving as an elder. He graduated in 1951 from Wall Lake Community School and then continued his education at Commercial Extension in Omaha for a year. He came back and worked at Rowedder Implement until he was drafted into the army in 1953, serving in Seoul, Korea doing office work as a Specialist Orders Clerk. In 1955 he returned home to continue working with his Dad and brother, Loren

On August 5, 1962 he married Lorene Brotherson. They happily welcomed children Laura in 1966, Sara in 1968 and Larry in 1971 by adoption. Suzy was then born in 1973 and Sharon in 1976. He had many happy memories at work with his Dad, and Loren, son Larry, faithful mechanic and friend Morris Boeckman as well as other employees over the years, Ernest Hedberg, John Rowedder his cousin from Germany, Tom Steinkamp, Merle Miller, Gene Gerdes, and Kurt Peterson and others. He worked faithfully at what his Dad started, for over 50 years until the business was sold in 2009. But it was the call of the train whistle that pulled at his heart. He loved to watch or travel by train and opened this world often to his family and close relatives, while building friendships at specialty train events. His favorite train trip was Seven Rails over Colorado with steam engines, open air cars and cameras which he made a couple of times with family.

Survivors include his loving wife, Lorene; children: Laura (Mike) Dressler of Harrisburg, SD, Sara (Mike) Renner of Graylake, IL, Larry (Nancy) Rowedder of Carroll, IA, Suzy (Bob) Loch of Ankeny, IA and Sharon (Dan) McMartin also of Ankeny. He has 13 grandchildren, Alec, Haley, Cole (Morgan), Reid, Brady, Christian, Henry, Kate, Ava, Regan, Chloe, Elijah and Matthew and one great-granddaughter Sage. Additionally, sister in-law Patti (Brotherson McDonough), many close cousins, nieces and nephews and their children as well.

LeRoy was preceded into death by his parents, George and Helma Rowedder; brother Loren; his in-laws, Ray and Clara Brotherson, Allan Brotherson, Darrell and Carol (Brotherson) Arneil; uncle and aunts, Raymond and Phyllis Else, and Rudolph and Alvera Ruchti.