Rollins, E. Carleton 'Rollie'

E. Carleton “Rollie” Rollins, 94, passed away at Our House Memory Care in Chippewa Falls, Wis., on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009. Services: 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Murdoch Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Marion, by Rev. the Lloyd Brockmeyer. The family will greet friends one hour before the service at the funeral home. Private family interment: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Survivors include his daughter, Carol Grenko of Chippewa Falls, Wis.; three grandsons, Rick of Jefferson, S.D., Jeff and Scott (Amy), both of Chippewa Falls; and nine great-grandchildren, Logan, Haley, Rachel, Mackenzie, Brodie, Kyla, Gracie, Luke and Carson.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Maxine (Barta) Rollins; his parents; his brother, George; his sister, Margaret Lacock; and his son-in-law, Bob Grenko.

Rollie was born Sept. 1, 1915, at Rainbow Farm, Central City, Iowa, to Leon and Della (Hodgin) Rollins. He graduated from Springville High School and was a graduate of Coe College. In college, Rollie worked at John B. Turner and Sons Funeral Home. After graduating, he married Maxine Barta in 1938. Rollie worked one year each in Chariton and Dubuque for the Des Moines Register. He returned to Cedar Rapids, where he lived until 2005. He worked as a funeral director for Turner Funeral Home until his retirement in 1980. After retirement, Rollie continued to work for Murdoch Funeral Homes both in Cedar Rapids and Marion.

Rollie was a World War II veteran. He enlisted and served as a Lieutenant JG in the Navy aboard destroyers in the Atlantic and minesweepers in the Pacific. His ship was one of the escorts for President Roosevelt to the Yalta Conference.

Rollie was a past president and a member of the Thursday Noon Lions Club for over 50 years. He was a Mason and a member of Crescent Lodge 25 AF&M. He was a member of El Kahir Shrine and was very active for many years with the Shrine Circus.

He was an avid fisherman and hunter and made many trips in the Midwest and Canada. He also enjoyed playing cards, especially cribbage. He enjoyed traveling with his wife of 63 years to visit his daughter and grandsons.

In lieu of flowers, memorials would be appreciated. They will be divided between Alzheimer's Association and the Cedar Rapids Lions Club.

Please sign the online guest book for Rollie at    under obituaries.