In Memoriam of Vernon Rohe

Vernon Rohe, son of Walter and Ella (Sibbel) Rohe, was born November 26, 1920, on a farm south of Templeton, Iowa. He attended rural school near Templeton through the 8th grade. He then worked for several area farmers until he was 19 years old and started farming on his own on his Uncle Bill Sibbel's farm north of Manning.

At one of the many dances in the area during that time, he met Martha Halbur. They were united in marriage on February 8, 1944 at Halbur. This union was blessed with four boys and four girls. They moved to the current family farm to work and raise their family. November 15, 1972, was a very sad day in Vernon and Martha's life when they lost their 19 year old son, Allen, tragically in a car accident. Then on September 12, 1981, Martha lost her battle with cancer after 37 years of marriage. After the death of his son and wife, Vernon persevered through his strong faith in God and family.

His love of dancing led him to the Val-Air Ballroom where he met the second love of his life, Vi Sheeder. They were married on February 18, 1984, in Manning, celebrating 30 years of marriage in 2014.

Vernon got his greatest joy from family and his farm. Raising cattle and hogs, planting the crops and watching them grow to harvest was his love on the farm. In his final days, this love of the farm continued with many visits to the farm where he was greeted by his dog, Zoey, with a paw shake.

During his lifetime, Vernon was a faithful member of Sacred Heart Parish, first in Templeton and then in Manning. Vernon served as an usher for many years and on the Church Board. He was a Crow's seed corn dealer for over 40 years. He loved to dance, play cards, fish, travel, and spend time with family, playing with his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Vernon was a sweet and loving husband, dad, grandfather and great grandfather.

After being blessed with many years of good health, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease in 2004. For several years before he entered the Manning Plaza Nursing Home, he was cared for at home by his wife and seven children. During that time, he shared many stories of his life. When his health seriously declined, he moved to the Plaza in February of 2014 and died there on Friday, August 15, 2014.

Vernon was preceded in death by his parents; wife Martha Rohe; son Allen Rohe; grandchildren Kerry and Kenzie Sporrer; parents in law Bernard & Margaret Halbur; brothers: Norbert Rohe (Bertille), Glen Rohe (Millie), Gene Rohe, and Wayne Rohe (Esther); and in laws: Helen Loeffelholz (Walter), Jerry Schwaller, Leander Halbur, Marvin Stephenson and Jean Clouse.

Survivors include his wife, Vi Rohe of Manning; seven children: Duane Rohe (Eddy) of Omaha, Larry Rohe (Becky) of Missouri Valley, JoAnn Rowedder (Skip Stepanek) of Omaha, Linda Sporrer (Bob) of Dedham, MaryJane Stribe (Keith) of Carroll, Daryl Rohe (Lisa) of Manning and Janet Goecke (Steve) of Cedar Creek, Nebraska; three step-children: Randy Sheeder (Mary) of Guthrie Center, Rick Sheeder (Bev) of Guthrie Center and Terri Holmes (Darwin) of Guthrie Center; 19 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; seven step-grandchildren; 17 step-great grandchildren; in-laws: Leona Rohe, Edwin Halbur (Bernice), Agnes Schwaller, Eileen Halbur, Louis Halbur (Agnes), Rita Sporrer (Harold), Lorene Moore and Ruth Morrell; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Memorial donations can be made to: Manning Plaza Nursing Home or Manning Fire Department Building Fund