ROVANG, John G. 1915-2007

ROVANG

Posted By: Gordon Felland (email)
Date: 11/9/2008 at 15:52:54

John G. Rovang, age 91 of Joice, died Saturday, May 19, 2007 at his home in rural Joice. Funeral service were Thursday, May 24 at 10:30 a.m. at Fertile Lutheran Church in Fertile, Iowa with Lay Pastor David Halverson and Pastor Dan Burton officiating. Burial was at Beaver Creek Cemetery in rural Joice.  

John Glen Rovang was born Nov. 21, 1915, in rural Fertile Township, the son of Renus G. and Betsy (Rusley) Rovang. He was baptized and confirmed at Beaver Creek Lutheran Church, rural Joice. He received his elementary education in a rural school in Fertile Twp, and graduated from the Lake Mills High School in 1934. He attended Luther College and Iowa State University.

He began his teaching career at New Providence, Iowa, where he was High School Vocational Agricultural Instructor. He later taught Vocation Agriculture and the Veterans Agriculture Program in the Forest City school system and the North Iowa Area Community College, and was also engaged in farming.

On July 6, 1942, he was married to Ruth Ward of Swaledale, Iowa. They celebrated 64 years of marriage in 2006.

John served on several state and local committees. He served as president of the Worth County Farm Bureau, and president of the Worth County Historical Society. He served several years as Worth County Soil Conservation Commissioner and was on the County FHA Board. In 1988 he was appointed by Governor Branstad to a 6-year term on the Iowa State Judicial Selection Commission and also served as an Older Iowa Legislative Representative to the Iowa Legislature. He served as director on the Iowa State Poultry Board and was named Iowa Master Egg Producer in 1961. John was a member of Winnebago Area Retired Teachers where he served as vice president and legislative chair. John was a member of the Beaver Creek Lutheran Church where he served as congregation president, a Sunday School teacher, was on the Cemetery Board and held several other Church offices. After Beaver Creek’s closing, he became a member of the Fertile Lutheran Church.

John and Ruth enjoyed traveling and made several trips to Europe to visit the areas of their ancestors. John was especially interested in genealogy, and researched his family tree back to the 1600’s.

John was an avid reader and had a special interest in the history of his community and Beaver Creek Lutheran Church. He researched the history of Beaver Creek after its closing and wrote a history of his life and family. His hobby was also antiques and he restored several antique and collector cars. He served as secretary of the North Iowa Vintage Auto Society. John was blessed with a special gift of memory and was often contacted by others regarding information on past historical events.

John was a devout Christian man and loved his family. He is survived by his wife Ruth, sons Douglas (Rosaline) of Rochester, MN, and Richard of Eagan, MN, daughter Donna (Brent Orton) of Mason City, IA, and six grandchildren, Michelle (Bryan) Burke, Ann (Matt) Wolff, Mark John, Matthew, Chrismar and Kiersten Orton and two great-grandchildren, Nicholas Burke and Abigail Wolff.

He was preceded in death by his parents, son Mark John, brother Marvin and sister Jeanette.