SOBEK, Roland, R. "Rollie" (1945-2004)

SOBEK, NETLAND, HOUDEK, PETERSON, CLARK, KLESEL, RAVE, BELL, MASON

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 8/25/2013 at 15:28:16

ROLAND R. SOBEK MAY 24, 1945 – DECEMBER 20, 2004

Roland "Rollie" R. Sobek, age 59, of Klemme, died of complications from mytonic dystrophy on Monday, December 20, 2004, at the University of Iowa Hospital, Iowa City.

Funeral services were held on Thursday, December 23, at the Andrews Funeral Chapel in Klemme. The Rev. Paddy Druhl of the Klemme United Methodist Church officiated. Interment was in the Ell Township Cemetery, Klemme.

Roland Robert Sobek, was born on May 24, 1945 in rural Klemme, the son of Fred and Ethel (Netland) Sobek. He attended Klemme schools and worked as a farm hand in his youth. Rollie married Patricia Houdek. To this union, four children were born, Kay, Gregory, Gary, and Dawn. The couple later divorced.

Throughout most of his working life, Rollie was an auto mechanic. He was employed in various places around the north Iowa area including Forest City and H & R Auto Repair in Leland. He earned numerous awards and recognition for his mechanical skills from the Ford Motor Company. As the years went by, his disease impaired his professional career, yet he continued to enjoy tinkering and doing mechanic work on his own.

On August 5, 2000, Rollie was united in marriage to his long time friend and companion, Kay Peterson, at their home in Klemme. The couple made the most of the last four years that they had together. Rollie enjoyed fishing for catfish near Marble Rock. He and Kay enjoyed fishing excursions to the Twin Lakes spillway near Kanawha. Rollie also enjoyed gardening and bowling. He and Kay took several trips to Fire Fly Casino, Marshall, Minnesota and to the casino at Tama.

As his health declined, Rollie took great pleasure in the simple things of life like a game of solitaire, time spent with his dog Patsy, visiting with his friends and family and chauffeuring his wife to work.

Survivors include his wife, Kay Peterson-Sobek of Klemme; sons, Gregory Sobek of Clear Lake, Gary and wife, Jamie Sobek and their children, Cody, Dillon and Aaron all of Britt, and Robert Sobek of West Union; a step-son, Vaughn Peterson and significant other, Rian Rave and their daughter, Brooklyn of Marshall, Minnesota; step-daughter, Vanessa Bell and husband, Derek and their children, Deondrea and Dawson, all of Sioux City; brother, Rodney Sobek and wife, Cindy of Knoxville; and sisters, Bev Clark and husband, John of Gladbrook and Sheryll and husband, John Klesel of Garner; also a granddaughter, Misty Mason of Scarville; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Dawn Sobek; and brothers, Roger, Glenn and Douglas Sobek.