Rohde, Catherine A.

Catherine A. Rohde, 83, of Cedar Rapids, died Sept. 2, 2010, at Cottage Grove Place. A memorial gathering and reception will be held from 4:30 to 7 p.m. today at the Cedar Rapids Country Club-North Porch. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. The Rev. Thomas E.S. Miller of First Presbyterian Church will officiate. Arrangements entrusted to Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home.

Surviving are her children, Charlie Rohde of Cedar Rapids, Sara Sauter and husband Jim of Cedar Rapids, and Christine Castner and husband Stanley of Evergreen, Colo.; six grandchildren, Katie and Anna Rohde, Patrick and Lizzie Sauter, and Sam and Joe Castner; a sister, Nancy E. Smith of Cedar Rapids; a brother, William (Joyce) Smith of Peoria, Ill.; sister-in-law, Susan Stroupe of Racine, Wis.; as well as nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Charles P.; sister, Mary Friend; and brother, David J. Smith.

Catherine was born Jan. 23, 1927, in Dubuque, Iowa, the daughter of Albert and Elizabeth (Pladna) Smith. She was united in marriage to Charles P. Rohde on June 23, 1951, in Dubuque. C.P. preceded her in death on Feb. 13, 2002. She was a long time member of the Mercy Medical Center Auxiliary, volunteering in the gift shop, where she logged more than 4,222 hours. She was a dedicated mother and grandmother, assisting at schools, Camp Fire, and many events. As a member of the Cedar Rapids Country Club, she played many rounds of golf with friends and family. She enjoyed traveling throughout the United States with her husband. A favorite place to visit was the beach at Sanibel Island with her sisters and family. She was a darn good aim with a 20 gauge and the walleyes were never safe when she was in Canada.

She will be dearly missed by her family.

Memorial donations in Catherine's name may be made to the Rohde Endowed Nursing Scholarship through the Kirkwood Foundation at Kirkwood Community College or to the nursing program at Mount Mercy University.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff of Cottage Grove Place and Hospice of Mercy for their dedicated and compassionate care.

Please leave a message, tribute, or memory to the Rohde family on the webpage,  under obituaries.