Donald Dean Rohrer, 10 Jun 1928 - 06 Jan 2021

ROHRER, HARRIER, BORG, ROTH, NIXON, SILL, SHATTO, FAZIO, THOR, KRAUS

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 1/14/2021 at 10:42:14

Donald Dean Rohrer, 92, of Victor, Iowa, passed away of natural causes on Ja. 6, 2021, at the Israel Hospice House in Ames, Iowa.

Don was born at home in Marengo, on June 10, 1928, to Raymond Rohrer and Blanche (Harrier) Rohrer. He grew up on a farm south of Victor, and graduated from Victor High School in 1945. One of his greatest regrets was that he was not old enough to join the armed services and participate in World War II.

Don was united in marriage to Susie (Lila Lee) Borg on Aug. 1, 1948. Don and Susie celebrated 70 years of marriage shortly before Susie's passing in 2018.

Don was proud that his family had been in the Victor community since the 1860s and had been involved in agriculture for more than 150 years. Don and Susie's first business venture was baling hay; he soon added shelling ear corn and hauling lime and gravel. In the 1960s, Don expanded into the fertilizer business. This business enlarged when his only brother Richard joined him to form Rohrer Brothers Fertilizer with facilities in Victor, Brooklyn and Marengo. He also co-owned a tiling machine and purchased Victor Oil company. Hard work, honesty and customer service were the qualities that described Don as a human being and business owner.

For many years, he enjoyed traveling with Susie and fishing trips to Canada with friends. After he retired, he enjoyed taking care of his yard and small garden, listening to music, completing parts of his coin collection, playing cards, and especially going to breakfast with his buddies.

Don's biggest love in life was the town of Victor and its people. Everywhere he traveled he compared to Victor. Such as, "There is no traffic in Victor." Or, "You don't have to wait hours for the cable to be fixed in Victor." He was greatly honored when asked to be a Grand Marshall at the Victor Quasquicentennial celebration. Don was a member of the Victor Methodist Church and the Victor Volunteer Fire Department.

Survivors include three children, Jeanne (Jim) Roth of Ames, Jane (Brian) Nixon of Clifton, Va., Soonee (Bob) Sill of Ames; one foreign exchange daughter, Beth (Steve) Shatto of Chicago; five grandchildren, Claire Fazio, David Roth, Emily Thor, Peter Nixon and Megan Kraus; four great-grandchildren, Max, Harper and Abbey Fazio, and Iris Thor; and one brother, Richard Rohrer.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond Rohrer and Blanche (Harrier) Rohrer; and his wife, Susie.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be sent to the Smith funeral Home at 808 Fourth St., Victor, IA 52347, designated to the Victor United Methodist Church or Victor Immanuel Cemetery.

For additional information, please go to the Smith Funeral Home website, www.smithfh.com.

Published in The Gazette on January 7, 2021 and in The Hometown Current on January 13, 2021.