Krekeler, The Rev. Roland Joseph

The Rev. Roland Joseph Krekeler, 80, of Cedar Rapids, found peace in the arms of the Lord Sunday, August 7, 2011, after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. Services will be held Friday, August 12, at 11 a.m. at Bethany Lutheran Church, followed by burial at the Lisbon Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home and also Friday at the church from 10 to 11 a.m.

Roland was born Dec. 29, 1930, in Leavenworth, Kan., the youngest son of Carl and Louise (Wagner) Krekeler.

Roland moved with his family to Fort Smith, Ark., when he was 10 years old. Roland completed two years of high school and three years of junior college at St. John's College in Winfield, Kan. Upon his graduation, he made the decision to follow God's calling and began his studies at Concordia Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Mo. It was in 1955 that Roland met his future wife, Patricia (Resewehr), while serving as vicar at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Mount Vernon. His first assignment was a dual parish in eastern Pennsylvania, which he served for two years.

Roland and Patricia were married July 28, 1957, the first wedding at St. Paul's. After the birth of their first daughter, Miriam, they returned to Winfield, where he served as a teacher for five years. During this time, their daughter, Becky, was born. Roland's growing family moved to Ellsworth, Kan., where he served as pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church. Two more daughters, Louise and Ruth, were born in Ellsworth, and Roland and Patricia completed their houseful of girls with the adoption of Jennifer in 1976.

Roland and family moved to Iowa in 1967 and began working at The Cedar Rapids Gazette as a news reporter. He rubbed elbows with many attorneys and judges during his many years as court reporter. He continued his ministry by preaching at area churches, including Zion Lutheran in Hiawatha and Covington Church. Upon his retirement from The Gazette in 1991, he kept busy doing freelance work for area newspapers.

Roland will be remembered for his love of God and family. Also bringing him joy were classical music, attending family reunions and singing in the choir. His dynamic bass voice is now ringing loud and clear in the heavenly choir.

Roland was preceded in death by his parents;, brother, Kenneth; sister, Doris; daughter, Miriam; Patricia's parents, Elwood and Dorothy Resewehr; and his godson, Daniel Kretzmann.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Patricia; daughters, Becky (Alex) Johnson of Norway, Louise (Greg) Holtz of Cedar Rapids, Ruth (Adam) Pilsbury of Huntersville, N.C., and Jennifer (Tony) Campbell of Henderson, Nev.; brother, Carl Krekeler of Seattle, Wash.; sisters, Katheryn Kretzmann and Rose Marie (Jerry) Wyneken of Lititz, Pa.; son-in-law, Peter Wong of Chicago; grandsons, Matthew Stover, Carlin Stover and Maxwell Holtz of Cedar Rapids, Timothy Stover of Norway, Samuel and Jacob Roland Pilsbury of Huntersville, N.C., Teyshawn, Tyger and Trez Campbell of Henderson, Nev.; granddaughters, Louise Pilsbury of Huntersville, N.C., Teeyha Campbell of Henderson, Nev., and Katheryn Holtz of Cedar Rapids; step-grandsons, Daniel and Timothy Johnson of Norway; brothers-in-law, John Resewehr of Colorado City, Colo., and Robert Resewehr of Murrieta, Calif.; and many nieces and nephews.

Also surviving are longtime friends and neighbors, Johnny and Manon Page.

Memorials may be given to St. Luke's Hospice, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (www.michaeljfox.org) or the American Parkinson's disease Association (www.apdaparkinson.org).

Roland battled Parkinson's for 12 years and was in the care of St. Luke's Hospice for more than three years. The family wants to give a special thank you to the caring staff at St. Luke's Hospice and Winslow House, especially Julie, Pamela, John “Doctor Joe,” Augusta and Michael.

Online condolences may be left at under Obituaries.