Roland Burroughs

Roland E. Burroughs, 92, of Waukon died Monday, March 16, 2015 at his home. Funeral services were held Monday, March 23 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, with Fr. Jim Dubert officiating. Burial was at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Waukon.
Roland Ephriam “Sonny” Burroughs was born November 8, 1922 at the rural Dorchester home of his parents, David and Mary (Moeller) Burroughs. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s, Dorchester Catholic Church and attended school in the Dorchester area. After his schooling he worked as a farmhand for various people in the area before purchasing a farm on Bear Creek.
November 7, 1953, he married Vera Mabel Wasserfort Hagemeier at St. Mary’s, Dorchester Catholic Church. In 1955, Roland and Vera sold the farm and moved to Waukon, where he worked at Kriete Tire Shop and drove truck for Admiral Freight Lines. Later he worked for a number of years as a tractor mechanic for Al Burg at Burg Implement in Waukon. Following his retirement, Roland did some work for Billy Bresnahan as a diesel mechanic and truck driver.
Roland was at home in the outdoors. His entire life he hunted, fished, gathered, and was very resourceful interacting with nature. He raised a large garden, did a lot of canning, made jellies and jams, and was a good cook and baker. He took the time to teach his kids and grandkids many of the things he had learned and tried to pass that knowledge down to them.
Survivors include his four children, Becky of Boston, MA, Paul of Waukon, Mark of Wichita Falls, TX and Dean of Waukon; 14 grandchildren; 35 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and a sister, Della Just of Clarkfield, MN. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Vera, who died in December 2014; three sisters, Mary Helgeson, Florence Radloff and Anna Mae Waters; and five brothers, Richard, Jerome, Garland, Delbert and Alfred.
Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.