Roger Elsbernd

Roger Elsbernd, age 74, of Decorah, Iowa, died on Thursday, October 18, 2007, at his home following a lengthy illness. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, October 22, 2007, at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Decorah, Iowa, with Rev. Phillip Gibbs officiating. Burial will be in St. Aloysius Catholic Cemetery, Calmar, Iowa. Friends may call on Sunday from 3:00-7:00 p.m. and on Monday morning until 9:30 a.m. at the Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, in Decorah, Iowa. There will be a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 4:00 p.m. and a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday. Roger Elsbernd was born on July 8, 1933, the son of John and Martha (Kuennen) Elsbernd, on the family farm near Calmar, Iowa. Roger attended St. Mary’s Catholic School in Festina and Campion High School in Prairie du Chien, WI. Roger was needed on the farm to help his father; completing high school at Calmar in 1951. Roger married Gladys Huinker on August 4, 1954 at St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Calmar, Iowa. Roger’s Uncle, Rev. Alphonse Elsbernd, officiated. Together they farmed south of Calmar. Roger’s love for the farm continued into retirement when he and Gladys moved to Decorah. Roger enjoyed playing cards, fishing, traveling, cribbage and music. He especially enjoyed his family and his grandchildren. Roger was a previous member of St. Aloysius Catholic Church in Calmar, where he was a lector, lay minister and served on the parish council. He was a current member of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, where he was a willing volunteer. Roger was a 4th Degree Knights of Columbus. Roger’s survivors include his wife, Gladys, Four daughters: Susan (Alex) Smith, CO; Linda (Jeff) Brown, KY, Ruthann Chaplin, KY and Jane (Blake) Andrist, MN. Four sons: Gary (Marie) Elsbernd, Thomas Elsbernd, Michael Elsbernd, IA and John Elsbernd, MN. Ten grandchildren: Katherine Andrist, Charlie and Cassondra Chaplin, Mitchell, Leah, Mason, Kenzie, Derek, Kariann and Roger William Elsbernd. Two sisters: Colette (Anthony) Kuhn, IA and Sister Ruth Elsbernd, OSF, IA. Four sisters-in-law: Helen Elsbernd, CA, Leona Watt, IA and DeEtta Hemesath, IA. Luella Elsbernd, IA Two brothers-in-law: Dennis (Elberta) Huinker, IA and David (Martha) Huinker, IA and a sister-in-law, Dorothy Huinker, IA and many nieces and nephews. Roger was preceded in death by his parents, John and Martha, three brothers, Jerome, Arnold, and Joseph Elsbernd as a child. Four brothers-in-law: Paul and Alvin Huinker, Alphonse Hemesath and James Watt, and a sister-in-law: Georgina Huinker.