Fred J. Rohde

Fred J. Rohde of Alexandria, MN died on January 18, 2015. Funeral services will be held at Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria at 10:00 AM on January 23, 2015 with Reverend Mark Astrup officiating. A burial service will be held at 10:30 AM on January 24, 2015 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, in Marshalltown, IA. Memorials in Fred’s name may be sent to American Heart Association, Catch a Special Thrill (C.A.S.T.), a foundation dedicated to taking kids and returning warriors fishing, and Pheasants Forever. Fred was born on October 18th, 1923 in Marshalltown, IA. He was the 3rd child of Fred H. and Emma (Rubenbauer) Rohde. After graduating from Marshalltown Senior High in 1941, he served in the Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1946. Fred married Lois L. Temple of Johnston, IA, a Kindergarten Teacher in Marshalltown, on April 6th, 1947. They were married for over 64 years. Fred received his BSE from Upper Iowa University, an MSE from Drake University, and a PhD from Iowa State University. He was a teacher in Beaman and Guttenberg, a Junior High Principal in Earlham, Adel, Nevada, and school Superintendent in the Green Mountain and Ballard School Districts in Iowa before moving to White Bear Lake, MN in 1965. He served as their first Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education. In 1977 he moved to NW MN to start up an Educational Cooperative Service Unit for the 55 school districts in that 13-county area. He remained in this position until his retirement in 1989 – serving 41 years in K-12 public education. At his retirement party in 1989, he was presented a Certificate of Appreciation from the Commissioner of Education for Minnesota, Ruth Randall, which stated, “Fred Rohde has provided 41 years of dedicated services to learners and is hereby awarded this Certificate of Appreciation for contributions for education in the state of Minnesota”. He also received a Certificate of Commendation from Governor Rudy Perpich, “ In recognition of his contributions to education change, individual learning systems, team teaching, flexible scheduling, and performance curriculum, and in acknowledgment of his 41 years of work with the NW ECSU, the Kettering Foundation, White Bear Lake School District, and eight Iowa School Districts, and in the honor of his commitment to improve education for the benefit of all students; I hereby commend and congratulate Fred Rohde for a job exceptionally well done”. From the inception of his career as junior high principal serving multiple schools in Iowa and into his retirement, he was involved in educational changes. In 1989, Fred and Lois moved for their last time to Alexandria MN to their lake lot on Brophy Lake, and built their home. The home on the lake was a gathering point for many family events. Fred and Lois were the happiest when every bed, sofa, and floor space was occupied by family. Fred become a volunteer in the AARP’s 55 Alive Driver Safety program and served as an instructor and later an Assistant State Coordinator. He also served on his church’s weekly offering audit committee for 13 years until he had to resign to become a full-time caregiver to Lois. His life centered on his family, education, gardening, hunting, and fishing – especially introducing his grandchildren to hunting and fishing. He is survived by his son Fred C. (Fritz) of Wilmington NC, son Stephen (Steve) and wife Pamela of St. Paul and St. Petersburg FL, and his daughter Kelley and husband Scott Lerud of Waubun MN. Grandchildren: Bill (Darlene) Ellis of Dassel, MN, David (Jessica) Walker of Dixon IL, Cameron (Mark) Kunesh of Warren ME, Jennifer Kaltenbach of Wilmington, NC, Nate and Carlos Rohde of St. Paul, MN, Josh (Ashley) Lerud of Mahnomen MN, Nick (Justine) Lerud and Sam (Cassidy) Lerud of Moorhead MN, Natalie (Darius) Lerud of Waubun MN, great grandchildren (Jordan, Tyler, Mark, Johnny, Paige, Hallie, Emma, Julia, Alexis, Emelia, Peyton, Mackenzie, Landon, and Trynity), and great-great grandsons (Oliver and Oden), sister Velma Gunderson of Marshalltown, IA (Steve, Greg and Riki), sister Arlene (Delmar) Ford of Brooklyn IA (Larry, Loren, Hank, and Susie), sister-in-law Ronda Rohde of Englewood FL (Mark, Tim, and Melissa), and many great-nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his wife Lois, daughter Peggy, grandson Chad, sister Evelyn and Eleanor, brother Leroy, niece Annie, and great-grandson Skyler Rohde.

Fred J. Rohde

October 18, 1923 - January 18, 2015