Journal entry by Al Negstad — a minute ago
Arriving at The Little House On The Prairie Sunday I was greeted with the news of three deaths. Donavieve (Donnie) the cousin of my cousins died. So did Delores, neighbor on the farm and life long resident of the Sinai community. When I attended church there on Memorial Day weekend I sat with her and had a good visit. Rolf Hope also died and it is he about whom I will write. (See obituary)
Rolf E. Hope
Des Moines
Des Moines
"Rolf E. Hope, age 84, died on July 11, 2019 at the Calvin Community Health Center in Des Moines, IA. He was born on February 20, 1935 in Birch Hills, Saskatchewan to Arnt and Eva (Arneson) Hope and was the oldest of eight children.
Rolf was married to Marj Boer in 1963 in Platte SD. They moved to Lake Wilson, MN in 1967, where he taught for 11 years. After an accident they moved to Chamberlain, SD and he pursued carpentry. He and Marj moved to Des Moines in May and he entered into hospice care shortly after the move.
Rolf had a kind and gentle spirit. He enjoyed spending time with everyone he met. He was an active member of the American Legion, Gideons and Trinity Lutheran Church and served 20 years in the Army National Guard. He loved music and sang in the choir until his voice gave out.
Rolf had a passion for woodworking. There are many fond memories of him working with his kids in the shop when they were young, building Christmas gifts for each other, along with other various projects. His wife and kids still enjoy and treasure many pieces of furniture and decorations that he has built for them over the years. He particularly enjoyed working in the shop with his grandchildren.
Rolf was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ervin, sister Freda, mother and father-in-law, three brothers-in-law, and one sister-in-law. He is survived by his wife, Marj, his three children, Vonda (Tom) Bachman, Jean Scherr, and Chad; his brothers, Marvin (Lois), Lloyd, Roy (Rose), and Arnold (Louise); his sister, Helen (Jerry) Stordahl; and his grandchildren, Hope, Sage, Wyatt and Luke Brannon; and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, July 19, 2019 at 11:00 am at Heartland Presbyterian Church, 14300 Hickman Road in Clive. Visitation will occur one hour prior. A light lunch will follow the service. Burial will be at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter. "
The Hope's were neighboring farmers during my childhood and I attended both elementary and high school with Rolf, who was three grades ahead of me. In my second year of college I roomed with Rolf, his brother Lloyd and David Halvorson in the basement of a small house near campus. At lunch today in Volga I saw the landlord, now in his 90s, of that house. Rolf was truly a gentle soul. He loved western movies and would often go alone if none of us were interested. Returning from a movie one evening I asked him how it was. "He said OK, but a bit of a surprise." He'd gone to see West Side Story thinking it was a western. 😀
He certainly did have "a kind and gentle spirit."
May God bless the memories of Donnie, Delores and Rolf and bless their loved ones in the land of grief.
Takk for alt,
Al
Rolf was married to Marj Boer in 1963 in Platte SD. They moved to Lake Wilson, MN in 1967, where he taught for 11 years. After an accident they moved to Chamberlain, SD and he pursued carpentry. He and Marj moved to Des Moines in May and he entered into hospice care shortly after the move.
Rolf had a kind and gentle spirit. He enjoyed spending time with everyone he met. He was an active member of the American Legion, Gideons and Trinity Lutheran Church and served 20 years in the Army National Guard. He loved music and sang in the choir until his voice gave out.
Rolf had a passion for woodworking. There are many fond memories of him working with his kids in the shop when they were young, building Christmas gifts for each other, along with other various projects. His wife and kids still enjoy and treasure many pieces of furniture and decorations that he has built for them over the years. He particularly enjoyed working in the shop with his grandchildren.
Rolf was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ervin, sister Freda, mother and father-in-law, three brothers-in-law, and one sister-in-law. He is survived by his wife, Marj, his three children, Vonda (Tom) Bachman, Jean Scherr, and Chad; his brothers, Marvin (Lois), Lloyd, Roy (Rose), and Arnold (Louise); his sister, Helen (Jerry) Stordahl; and his grandchildren, Hope, Sage, Wyatt and Luke Brannon; and many nieces and nephews.
A funeral service will be held on Friday, July 19, 2019 at 11:00 am at Heartland Presbyterian Church, 14300 Hickman Road in Clive. Visitation will occur one hour prior. A light lunch will follow the service. Burial will be at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter. "
The Hope's were neighboring farmers during my childhood and I attended both elementary and high school with Rolf, who was three grades ahead of me. In my second year of college I roomed with Rolf, his brother Lloyd and David Halvorson in the basement of a small house near campus. At lunch today in Volga I saw the landlord, now in his 90s, of that house. Rolf was truly a gentle soul. He loved western movies and would often go alone if none of us were interested. Returning from a movie one evening I asked him how it was. "He said OK, but a bit of a surprise." He'd gone to see West Side Story thinking it was a western. 😀
He certainly did have "a kind and gentle spirit."
May God bless the memories of Donnie, Delores and Rolf and bless their loved ones in the land of grief.
Takk for alt,
Al
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