Roger Wohlsdorf, 82

 

Nov. 7, 1935 —
Dec. 15, 2017
 
CRESCO - Roger Paul Wohlsdorf, age 82, passed away in Rochester, Minn. on Dec. 15, 2017. 
A memorial service will be held on Dec. 30 at 12 p.m. at Cresco Community Chapel, Cresco, Iowa, with visitation at 10 a.m.
Roger was born on Nov. 7, 1935, at his parents,’ Alan P. Wohlsdorf and Irene Paul Wohlsdorf, home on First Avenue East in Cresco. He graduated from Cresco High School in 1953. Following graduation, he moved to California with some of his friends for a short time and then returned to Waterloo, Iowa, where he worked at John Deere. Eventually he returned to Cresco to help his dad with Concrete Products Co., along with his brother, Ronald, who passed away in 1963. He purchased the business from his dad when he retired in 1983. Roger retired in 1991.
He married his high school sweetheart, Malvera Nygaard, in 1957. They had a son and a daughter who were the lights of his life. He was a strict but caring dad. His kids and their friends have their favorite stories about growing up in his shadow. Even his grandkids and their friends have special moments and memories of Grandpa Roger.
He loved to fly and was a member of the Cresco Flying Club for many years. His other passion was fishing, and he loved it when his kids and grandkids would come to the lake and go fishing with him. He knew his time spent at the lake was a special blessing in his life. He and Mal enjoyed their pontoon rides and watching the loons and eagles. 
Many new friends were made, and the last few years, he and Mal were the oldest residents, with everyone kidding them about “respecting their elders.” Roger was always ready to help anyone who needed it. A popular phrase over the last 20 years was “Let’s get Roger.”
He has been “Grandpa” to many day care kids for the last 30 years. He loved to visit them as often as possible (daily). He had a special knock so they would know it was him, and then they would come running to greet him.
Roger was always ready to help out the neighbors, too if they needed anything. He and Al Vrieze were great pals and would do anything for each other. He enjoyed the 50-plus years New Year’s Eve card party tradition with the Lienhards and Hubkas. He also enjoyed spending time with the best man at his wedding, Martin Slifka.
His wishes were to donate his body to science to help educate students in the medical field.
Roger is survived by his wife of 60 years, Malvera; his son, Kim Roger (Diane) Wohlsdorf; his daughter, Wendy Jo Wohlsdorf; four grandchildren, Jess (Joel) Ward, Caleb (Lindsey) Wohlsdorf, Shane Vorwald and Catalina Vorwald; four great-grandchildren, Coltrane and Izabella Ward and Cameron and Riley Wohlsdorf; two brothers-in-law, Marvin (Celia) Nygaard and Stan (Brenda) Nygaard; a niece, Sheri Wohlsdorf (Randy) Greenslade; and many other nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Ronald (Kay); two nephews, Tim (Sue)Wohlsdorf and Greg Wohlsdorf; and sister-in-law, Beverly Babinec.

Cresco Times

Phone: 563-547-3601
Fax: 563-547-4602

Address:
Cresco TPD
214 N. Elm Street
Cresco, IA 52136

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