ROHRBERG, Fern Julia

ROHRBERG, SANBORN, JURGENS, BICHEL, LEICK, SPERRY, MODRELL, WAMBERG

Posted By: Roseanna Zehner (email)
Date: 12/28/2005 at 06:50:51

Opinion Tribune
December 21, 2005

Fern J. Rohrberg, 88, Glenwood

Fern Julia Rohrberg, 88, of Glenwood, died Dec. 16, 2005, at the Glen Haven Home in Glenwood.

Funeral services were held at St. John Lutheran Church in Mineola on Dec. 19, 2005. Pastor Stepphany Sanborn, was the officiant. Interment was at the Mineola Cemetery.

One of five children of Ferdinand Detlef Jurgens and Laura Johanna (Bichel) Jurgens, she was born on July 17, 1917, on her parent's farm north of Glenwood. Baptized and later confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in Mineola, she attended Everham Country School through the eighth grade and then worked as a housekeeper for her Grandpa Bichel.

Fern and Elvin Henry Rohrberg were married on November 11, 1936 at St. John Lutheran Church in Mineola. They made their first home on a farm near Pacific Junction. They then moved to the Jurgens' home place until 1948 when they purchased what currently remains of the Rohrberg family farm near Glenwood. Their marriage was blessed with three children, Eloise Ann, Donald Dean, and Kathleen Sue. Mrs. Rohrberg enjoyed her role as mother and homemaker and was active in the PtA when her children were in school.

She was a member of St. John Lutheran Church and the Ladies Aid and enjoyed quilting with the ladies at the church. She cross-stitched quilts, baby quilts, and tablecloths for all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

She loved to play cards and belonged to many card clubs, the Eagle's Club, and the Blue Bird Club. She and her husband traveled and enjoyed an active social life which included a host of friends. They had been married 40 years when

Mr. Rohrberg died at the age of 60 in 1976. She continued to live at the farm until 1980, when she sold the house and moved into Glenwood. She enjoyed being active and being with her family.

In May of 2002, she moved to the Glen Haven Home.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Elvin; son Donald Rohrberg in 2000; sister Lorraine Leick; brother Gerald Jurgens; and brother-in-law Chester Sperry.

She is survived by her daughters, Eloise Modrell and husband James of Algona; and Kathy Wamberg and husband Jim of Des Moines; sisters Norma Sperry; Lois Benedict and husband Duane; and daughter-in-law Jeanie Rohrberg all of Glenwood; seven grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends.

Memorials are suggested to Mineola Cemetery Association and Glen Haven Home. Hertz Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.