Marvin John Rops (1932-2022)

ROPS, BRAND, ZINSER, COFFIN

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 5/6/2022 at 08:22:51

Marvin John Rops, 89, of Cedar Rapids, died on Saturday April 30, 2022, in his home. Visitation: 4-7 p.m. on Friday, May 6, 2022, at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, 1844 1st Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Services: 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 7, 2022, at the funeral home. Interment with military honors to follow the service at Oak Hill Cemetery.

Those unable to attend in-person are invited to watch the service via livestream. Please find the livestream link on Marvin’s Tribute Wall and share your support, memories, and photos with his family at www.stewartbaxter.com under Obituaries.

Marvin is survived by his wife, Jeanette of Cedar Rapids; his sons, Jeff (Terri) of New Smyrna Beach, Florida, Bryan (Vanessa) of Fort Smith, Arkansas, and Chris of Westfield, Indiana; his grandchildren, Benjamin (Rachel) of Holly Springs, North Carolina, Kristin Rops of Lake Helen, Florida, Amanda Rops of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Madelyn and Molly of Edmond, Oklahoma, and Megan and Matthew Rops of Westfield, Indiana; and his great grandchildren, Willard, Ava Kay, and Adelynn. Also survived by his siblings, Jo Ann Beving, Mary Ascher, Frances (Floyd) Hook, Dennis (Rhonda) Rops; and brother-in-law, Donald Harken.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Verla; his daughter, Tresa; his parents, John and Lula Rops; his mother and father-in-law, Clarence and Gladys Zinser; an infant brother, Leonard; sister and brother-in-law, Valda and Arlo Dougan; sister, Betty Harken; sister-in-law, Ladonna Rops; and brothers-in-law, Junior Ascher and Gene Beving.

Marvin was born on July 30, 1932, in Austinville, Iowa, to John and Lula (Brand) Rops. He graduated from Ackley High School. After high school graduation, he served in the US Army from 1953 to 1955. He then attended Ellsworth College and went on to graduate from Iowa State University with a degree in engineering in 1959. Marvin married Verla Zinser on December 24, 1951. Verla passed away on July 31, 1987. On June 12, 1993, Marvin married Jeanette Coffin.

Marvin was a civil engineer and started Rops Engineering Company in 1968. He felt honored to be chosen by many eastern Iowa municipalities and clients to design and manage projects for them, such as, Anamosa, Belle Plaine, Blairstown, Danville, Dysart, Keystone, Martelle, Prairieburg, Olin, Oxford, Wyoming, and Kirkwood Community College. Thanks also to the many men and women who helped with surveying, construction staking, and building of the projects Marvin designed. He had many fond memories. He retired soon after the death of Verla, but continued as a strong advocate of civil projects, like the flood control levee for the Sun Valley subdivision.

Lastly, one of Marvin’s great pleasures was hunting and fishing. He often took his son, Bryan pheasant hunting and enjoyed spotting pheasants in unusual places like snow drifts. His passion for fishing was enormous which took him lake trout fishing for years at Lake Kississing with son, Jeff and crappie fishing with son, Chris, grandkids and his fishing friend, Addison. In addition, Marvin was active at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are encouraged to the Indian Creek Nature Center.

To donate a tree in memory of Marvin to a local organization, visit: https://indiancreeknaturecenter.org/join-give/donate/