Edward "Ed" Joseph Rohret
ROHRET, LYNCH, ELLERSON, KUMMER, NEMACHECK, LIVINGSTON, ALT
Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 7/12/2023 at 12:15:30
Ed was born July 21, 1945, to Harold (Bud) and Lillian (Lynch) Rohret He grew up in Cosgrove where he played basketball and graduated from Cosgrove High School. After high school, he attended the University of Iowa.
Ed had many fond memories of growing up on the farm. He talked about the demanding work of doing chores, driving the tractor, baling hay, milking cows, fixing fence and even helping his grandmother in her garden. He still remembered the names of the three cows he milked.
Ed proudly served his country in Vietnam as a Staff Sergeant (E6) in the 101st Airborne. His service decorations include Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal, Combat infantryman’s Badge, and many others. During his tour in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969 he was known as “Pappy” because he was the oldest person they had ever seen in the bush. He was 23.
He was employed by Knutson Construction as an estimator for over 20 years. His first job at Knutson Construction was bidding Carver Hawkeye Arena and his last was bidding the south end zone of Kinnick Stadium. This was appropriate as he was an avid Hawkeye fan, never missing any televised football or basketball games (men’s or women’s). During his years at Knutson, he fostered many treasured friends.
Ed became a wine and beer enthusiast during the early 1990’s. The wines he enjoyed were widely available and could be purchased easily; that was not the case with beer as micro-breweries had not yet evolved. Ed became a home brewer. He brewed all kinds of beers, stouts, IPAs, lagers and others. He used different combinations of grains, malts, yeasts, hops, and even fruits, producing many unique and delicious beers.
His long-time partner and wife was Georgia Fink Rohret. Together they enjoyed life on a beautiful acreage in rural Iowa City where they grew vegetables, fruits and many blooming bushes, trees and flowers.
Ed retired in 2005 marking the beginning of a new chapter in his life. He and Georgia travelled to many destinations of their dreams. They took several trips a year, both abroad and at home. They especially enjoyed their winter vacations with the “Beach Bums.” Their travels often took them to St. Louis Cardinal baseball games; Ed claimed the Cardinals never lost a game he attended.
Ed and Georgia also loved animals. They had three wonderful black labs that they walked daily on many trails in different parks. Ed would strike up a conversation with everyone along the way and no one was a stranger to Ed after meeting them once.
He was preceded in death by his parents Harold (Bud) and Lillian Rohret.
Survivors include his wife, Georgia; daughters Amy Rohret (Kim Ellerson), and Jill Rohret (Chris Kummer); and two grandsons, Ben and Drew Nemacheck. He is also survived by his siblings Pat Rohret (Maureen); Joyce Livingston (Greg); Jane Alt (Bob); and Frank Rohret (Judy); and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 10-11:30 am on Friday, July 21, 2023, at Waldschmidt Parish Hall in Cosgrove (4022 Cosgrove Rd. SW, Oxford, IA 52322) with a time of sharing beginning at 11:30 am. Military honors will be held at 12:00 pm followed by a luncheon at the Parish Hall. Burial will be at St. Peter Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Iowa City Hospice, Pathways Iowa City or an animal shelter or rescue.
Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
Johnson Obituaries maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
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