Vlotho, Rodney Deane, 1934-2009

VLOTHO, RICKLEFS, DAY

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/9/2012 at 18:53:14

Rodney Deane Vlotho, 74, of rural Lansing, Iowa, and Harlingen, Texas, died Friday, Feb. 13, 2009, at his home in Harlingen. Funeral services were held Thursday, Feb. 19, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, Iowa, with the Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating. Burial was at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lansing.

Rodney, the son of Orville and Nora (Ricklefs) Vlotho, was born Dec. 7, 1934, on a farm in rural Ireton. He graduated from Ireton High School and received a civil engineering degree from South Dakota State University. He served two years as a commissioned officer in the Army, stationed in Washington, D.C.

After discharge from the Army, he was employed by the Iowa DOT. Rod fell in love with the Mississippi River and northeast Iowa when he accepted the position as District Maintenance Engineer based in Decorah. Later he was the Winneshiek County Engineer; followed by various other Iowa county engineer positions, retiring from Scott County in 1997.

He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon and a 40-year member of the Elks. Nearly 25 years ago, in an outdoor chapel in Hardin County, Rod and Shirley Day were married.

Rod is survived by his wife, Shirley of Lansing; three children, Dan Vlotho of Lewisville, Texas, Vicki (Terry) Purvis of Gladbrook, Iowa and Kathy (Robert, Jr.) Evensen of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; five step-children, Rhonda McCollough of Knoxville, Tenn., Gayla (Kenneth) Sessa of Lee's Summit, Mo., Alicia (Darrin) Petty of Chattanooga, Tenn., Derrick Wedlund of Millington, Tenn., and Staci (Jerry) Carroll of Thomaston, Ga.; one sister, Cynthia (Jerry) Johnson of Alcester; one brother, Dennis (Sharon) Vlotho of Green Bay, Wis.; three grandchildren, Hillary, Tanner and Gage; step-grandchildren Justin, Jamie, Nicole, David, Samantha, Andrew, Derrick Jr., Jeremy, Sabrina, Toni Nicole and Kristyn; and four nephews, Brian, Steven, Scott and Douglas.

Source: Hawarden Independent Ireton Examiner, April 2, 2009.