Bernard M. Rohde

Bernard M. Rohde

Bernard M. Rohde, 76, of Fayette, died Tuesday, February 13, 2018, at his home in Fayette.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, February 17, 2018, at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Fayette with Rev. Andy Sayer officiating. Burial will follow at Grandview Cemetery in Fayette with military rites provided by American Legion Post #339 of Fayette. Visitation will be held Friday, February 16^th from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and for one hour preceding the service at the funeral home on Saturday.

Bernard Martin, son of Bernard and Mildred (Betsinger) Rohde was born September 15, 1941, at the Waverly Hospital. He received his early education in the country schools in rural Tripoli before graduating from Fayette High School in 1959. Upon graduation, Ben enlisted in the United States Navy and served from May of 1959 until being honorably discharged in September of 1962. On October 28, 1968, he was united in marriage with Norma Swomley in Galena, Illinois. The couple made their home in Fayette. Ben worked at Upper Iowa University prior to working for the City of Fayette for many years.

Ben is survived by one son, Marty (Goldie Moore) Rohde of West Union; one granddaughter, Angie Maness of West Union; one great-granddaughter, Becca Maness of West Union; two brothers, Joe (Rachel Johnson) Rohde of Fayette and Donald (Wendy) Rohde of Marion; two sisters, Catherine Langle of Kirksville, Missouri and Connie Halvorson of Marquette; one sister-in-law, Sandi Rohde of Farmersburg; and several nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Norma who died in 1996; daughter, Rebecca who died in 1993; grandson, Dakota who died in 2013; step-son, Daniel; and two brothers, John and James.

Kip Knight on February 16, 2018 at 11:25 AM said:

Ben Rohde, of the great Fayette (Iowa) High School class of 1959, was a true Cardinal. Ben enjoyed sports, was a first-class lineman on our FHS senior year team, and in later years, could always tell you how both your own, as well as his favorite college and pro baseball and football teams were doing. Back-in-the-days of Friday night football, Saturday night cruising, and the various undocumented escapades, Ben thrived. He never forgot his friends regardless of the time passed. I will always remember meeting Ben while he was mowing a field on the Big Rock Road, and although over 20 years had passed since we had seen each other, he greeted me as if we had last met the day before, as though no time had passed at all. Ben handled the ups and downs of life, the passing of his wife (Norma) and daughter (Becky), with a quiet strength few of us have. Following Ben's retirement, his almost daily drives around Fayette, "just to see how things are", were legendary. He did care. Ben's gentle personality, big smile, cheerful greeting, and quiet humor will be missed. Bye Ben, until we all meet again on the other side.

Kip Knight, FHS class of 1959