Ronald "Butch" Rodr

Ronald Eugene “Butch” Rodr, age 77, passed away on August 25, 2021, at Oak Crossing Transitional Care unit in Detroit Lakes, MN. He was born May 10, 1944, in Omaha, NE to Ernest and Nellie Alice (Watson) Rodr.

He graduated from Griswold Community High School in 1962 and was a member of the 1961 State Football champions team!  Ron was a very adventurous man, enjoying drag racing in his youth as well as fishing and hunting.

Ron attended Northwestern Missouri State College in Maryville, MO and then returned to Griswold to run the family business, Rodr Oil Company.

Ron was married to Vicki Martin from 1965 to 1977 and they had 4 children together, Jeffrey Jason, Jonathon Jay, Elaina and Bart.

In 1978, he married Marilyn Petersen and blended their families with Marilyn’s two daughters, Michelle and Christina. Ron & Marilyn welcomed their daughter, Kimberly in 1980.  After leaving the family business, Ron worked in the tire industry, working for Firestone, Cenex Cooperative and Universal Cooperatives.  Ron & Marilyn lived in Richfield, NE, Solon, IA, Grand Island, NE, Farmington, UT, and Hastings, MN before retiring at Rush Lake near Perham, MN.

Ron was a proud Mason.  He was a member of Cass Lodge #412 in Griswold, IA for over 50 years.  He became a member of the Nomad Shrine Club in Pharr, Texas where he served multiple terms as President and later became a member at El Zagal Shrine in Fargo, ND.

Ron is preceded in death by his parents, Ernie and Alice Rodr, children Jeffrey, Jonathon and Bart Rodr, grandson Christopher Rodr and brother-in-law Marlin Wade.

Ron is survived by his wife, Marilyn; sister, Marilyn (Rodr) Wade; daughters, Kimberly Rodr (Eric) Luzzi, Michelle (Mark) Severtson, Elaina Rodr and Christina Bonk; grandchildren, Nicholas and Zachary Rodr, Drew & Jacob Severtson, Jackson Luzzi, Joshua & Cheyenne Rodr; great grandson Wade Rodr, and several nieces and nephews.

Ron made friends wherever he went. If you were his friend, you were a part of his family.  If you have any fun stories about Ron that you would like to share, please send them to his family through Ron’s Facebook Messenger and through the Funeral Home website.

A private service is being held at Schoeneberger Funeral Home, Perham, MN on Monday, August 30, 2021.

He will be laid to rest Sunday, September 5, 2021. A Masonic service will be held at Rieken Duhn Funeral Home in Griswold, Iowa at 1pm.  Followed by a graveside service at 2 pm at the Griswold Cemetery officiated by Father Berner.

Due to COVID restrictions, we request that all attending the service in Griswold wear masks and observe social distancing.

In lieu of flowers, we request that you donate to Cass Lodge #412 in Ron’s name.

Cass Lodge #412, Care of Kim Kemp, 603 Scott Street, Griswold, Iowa 51535.