Roecker, Orval “Orv” Bernard (1930 – 2013)

ROECKER, REINIG, STOLZ, NEIENS, RANDALL

Posted By: Denise Wurner (email)
Date: 9/1/2013 at 15:34:00

Name of deceased: Orval “Orv” Bernard Roecker

Aged: 82 yrs, 11 mo, 30 days

Residence: Harlan, IA

Born: Feb. 2, 1930; Greeley, KS

Died: Feb. 1, 2013, Harlan, IA

Funeral services: Mass of Christian Burial: Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013, St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Harlan, IA; Rev. John Frost officiated. Burial was at the Harlan Cemetery, Harlan, IA

Survived by: wife of 62 years, Lee Roecker of Harlan, IA; sons, Greg Roecker (spouse, Denise Reinig) of Harlan, IA, Todd Roecker (spouse, Jolene) of Atlantic, IA, Marc Roecker (spouse, Kim) of Lebanon, MO, and Scott Roecker (spouse, Kathleen) of Redondo Beach, CA; 11 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; sister, Verla (spouse, Ron) Randall of Harlan, IA; other family members and many friends

Predeceased by: parents, Vincent and Margaret (nee Stolz) Roecker; sisters, Mary Lou and Donna; infant brother, Vernon

Education: attended school in Harlan, IA and graduated from Harlan High School, Class of 1947

Religious affiliation: active member, St. Michael’s Catholic Church

Military service: no information provided

Marriage: Lee Neiens; June 20, 1950; Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Atlantic, IA

Employment: Orv started his career in 1950 with Booth Motor Company. He also worked at McFayden Ford and Pauley Ford Center before purchasing Rocker Ford in 1967. He owned and operated the local Ford-Lincoln-Mercy car dealership for 32 years. In 1993, he sold his dealership and tried his hand at retirement. A year later, he started working at Knapp Realty in Harlan and spent almost 20 years selling real estate.

Hobbies/Interests: Orv started singing as a teenager and sang at his first wedding when he was 16 years old. He was a major part of St. Michael’s music ministry, a member of the Goldenaires, and performed at numerous funerals and weddings. He was a Faithful Navigator of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus, former three-term mayor of Harlan, Chamber of Commerce President, President of the Iowa Auto Dealers Association, a member of Western Iowa Arts and active in the productions of “South Pacific” and “Oklahoma,” a Boy Scout supporter, a long-time member of the Kiwanis, and was awarded Citizen of the Year.

Sources: ancestry.com, pauleyjones.com