Elmer J. Rolfes

Monday, December 7, 2015 5:58 pm

Elmer J. Rolfes, 87, of Marion, died peacefully Thursday, Dec. 3, 2015, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha. A Rosary is at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at Murdoch Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Marion. Visitation is 4 to 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 6, at the funeral home. A parish vigil service is at 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at funeral home. Funeral Mass is at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 7, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Marion. There also is visitation one hour prior to Mass at the church. Burial is in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Military honors are provided by American Legion Post No. 298, Marion.
Elmer was born July 31, 1928, in Reilly Ridge, to Michael H. and Frances (Sabelka) Rolfes. He attended country school, worked as a farmhand for a number of years and then served in the United States Navy beginning in 1950 for a four-year term. Elmer married Cecilia Stika May 18, 1953, in Protivin, at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church. He was employed by Rockwell-Collins and worked as a tool and die maker, retiring in 1989. Elmer was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus and a 20-year member of the Honor Guard for the Pilgrim Virgin Statue.  Elmer made rosaries and was a craftsman and woodworker. He enjoyed board games — his favorite was Upwords. He also enjoyed playing cards, doing crosswords and writing poetry. Elmer’s devotion was to Mary, the Rosary and the Church.
Elmer is survived by his children: Mikayla (Sue) Rolfes of Cedar Rapids, Kevin (Fiancee Heather Smith) Rolfes of Redmond, Wash. and Geralyn (David) Lloyd of Burlington; daughter-in-law, Lynn Rolfes of Bettendorf; four grandchildren: Christina (Josh Wright) Rolfes of Cedar Rapids, Andrew Lloyd of Austin, Texas, Carmen (Fiance Tyler DeHague) Lloyd of Minneapolis, Minn. and Hannah Lloyd of Madison, Wis.; two step-grandchildren, Melissa and Justin (Megan) Welch; sister-in-law, Lillian Rolfes of Calmer; and several nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Cecilia; son, Jay Rolfes; and six siblings.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Camp Courageous; 12007 190th ST Monticello, Iowa 52310 in Elmer’s memory. Please share a memory of Elmer at murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.