Roland Grotegut

Roland “Rollie” Frederick Grotegut, age 87, of Decorah died Saturday, March 26, 2016 at his home in Decorah. Funeral services were held Wednesday, March 30 at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon, with Pastor Samantha Houser presiding. Burial was in Oakland Cemetery, Waukon.
Rollie Grotegut was born January 18, 1929, the son of Simon and Lydia (Rolfs) Grotegut in rural Waukon. Rollie was baptized at Salem United Church of Christ and attended there the first eight years of his life. The family moved closer to Waukon and he became a member of Zion United Church of Christ, where he was confirmed April 18, 1943 and remains a member today.
Rollie attended school in the Waukon area. At a very early age, Rollie started working for several local farmers; from 1951 to 1974 he worked the family farm, one and a half miles west of Waukon. After that he worked as a yard man for 18 years at the Northeast Iowa Sales Commission, near Waukon, retiring in 1992.
Rollie was united in marriage to Dorrene Nolting August 1, 1951 at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. Together they raised their daughter, Judith, until Dorrene’s passing in 1986.
Rollie married Hazel (Telford) Rasmussen June 22, 1990 at Decorah Lutheran Church. He felt blessed to become part of Hazel’s large family and part of their lives. Together they made their home three miles east of Decorah, until they moved into Decorah three years ago.
Rollie was a hard worker who approached everything with skill, vigor and curiosity. He loved many things: horses, woodworking, hunting, fishing, gardening and playing cards. Rollie loved all young people and especially loved holding babies. He was a social man with many friends; whether it be sharing morning coffee at McDonalds or wintering in Arizona. He was a man with quick smiles and powerful hugs who had a knack for making people feel special and loved. Rollie also folded greeting cards to create small gift boxes for residents of area nursing homes.
Rollie had his first heart attack when he was 57, followed by many setbacks over the years. We were blessed that God gave him 30 more years before his heart finally couldn’t do it anymore. Rollie passed away peacefully in his favorite chair with the loving family at his side.
Rollie is survived by his wife, Hazel Grotegut of Decorah; four daughters: Judith Grotegut Robinson of Decorah and his expanded family of Deb Haberkorn of Eureka, MO, Connie (Mike) Sabbann of Woodbury, MN and Denise Thorsen of Rochester, MN; 10 grandchildren: Travis Robinson, Matt (Sheri) Haberkorn, Todd (Val) Haberkorn, Eric (Fatimah) Haberkorn, Luke Sabbann, Leslie Sabbann, David Sabbann, Laura (Adam) Kramer, Brad (Nina) Webbles and Tom (Anne) Webbles; nine great-grandchildren: Isaac, Anna and Nathan Haberkorn, John, Mark and Eden Haberkorn, and Maddy, Allie and Charlie Kramer; his sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Audrey Angel of Waukon, Carolyn Grotegut of Bettendorf, Emmet Nolting of Waukon, Harriet Onsager of Hastings, MN, Nadine (Dave) Siems of Fergus Falls, MN and Neal (Vicki) Telford of Des Moines.
Rollie was preceded in death by his parents, Simon and Lydia Grotegut; his first wife, Dorrene Nolting Grotegut; two brothers, Leonard Grotegut and Ralph Grotegut; his sister, Virginia (Ordell) Bjerke, his brother-in-law, Oscar Onsager; his sister-in-law, Coila Nolting; his son-in-law, Gary Haberkorn; and his fathers-in-law and mothers-in-law, Ruben and Esther Nolting, and Jack and Minnie Telford.
Casketbearers were Roland’s grandsons, Travis Robinson, Matt Haberkorn, Todd Haberkorn, Eric Haberkorn, Luke Sabbann, David Sabbann, Brad Webbles and Tom Webbles. Schluter-Balik Funeral Home of Decorah assisted the family with arrangements.