Ken Rohrer

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Longtime Bourbon and Sullivan citizen and business owner, Ken Rohrer, passed from this life in Venice, FL on December 4, 2019.  Kenneth Dale Rohrer was born at home in Bourbon, the fourth son of five, to Dan Rohrer and Serelda (Halfaker) on June 18, 1937. His brothers are Victor Rohrer and wife Lea of Springfield MO, Al Rohrer and wife Fran of Sullivan, and William Rohrer and wife Zelma of Salem MO, and Daniel Rohrer and wife Sheila of Colorado now deceased.   He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Jane (Minnehan) Rohrer of Venice, FL;  and his children Bradley Rohrer and wife Joan of Sullivan; Dana Rohrer Powell of Pensacola, FL; Tracy (Rohrer) Trout of Ballwin, MO and Darren Rohrer of Scottsdale, AZ.  With his marriage to Jane he helped raise three more surviving children, Beth (Turner) Marlowe and husband Craig of Jacksonville, FL;  Amy Turner of Elizabethtown, KY,  and  Lori (Turner) Little of Sullivan. He also leaves behind many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

After his years at Bourbon Schools he graduated from Southwest Missouri State College with a degree in education, then taught school for two years at Newberg, MO.  He was a member of the Army ROTC and entered the Army as a lieutenant.  

In 1963, he became an adjuster for MFA Insurance Company, later known as Shelter Insurance Co, and soon became the Agent in Sullivan, MO. Ken made many friends during his 45 years as the agent in his office on Springfield Road and enjoyed talking with them about their lives as well as making sure their insurance needs were met.  Ken had numerous interests and hobbies including horseback riding with Bill Wallis, bird identification with Gale Schmidt, searching for Indian artifacts with John Cuneio and Steve Brendle, overnight canoeing with the Cuneios, the Bullocks, the Barrons, and the Clarks, and Bluegrass singing with his brother Al.  He spent many years golfing with good friend Stan Kroenung and other friends in Sullivan and then later in Venice, FL.  He stacked up a total of five holes-in-one throughout his golfing years.  Later in Venice he golfed with cousin Richard Rohrer and good friend Jim Mitchell. 

Ken was intrigued with snakes, and enjoyed sharing his knowledge of them with friends. The wooded areas around his hometown became a school of the out-of-doors as he hiked and investigated the terrain. He learned the names of trees, and wildlife, paddled the streams, cooked over campfires, and explored every cave he could find; he was right at home in the mountains of Colorado and Montana. Ken’s interests were contagious and left his children with everlasting memories of experiencing nature with him.

In Sullivan, he attended Grace United Methodist Church and, along with Jane, sang in the choir for a number of years. Upon retirement in 2008, he and Jane relocated to Venice, FL on the west coast of the state, enjoying the wonderful weather. He became friends with an elderly gentleman who served in World War II and shared his experiences as a soldier with Ken. Because of him, Ken became interested in all documentaries and books about the war.  

A memorial service for friends to gather and remember Ken’s life will be held in Sullivan at Grace United Methodist Church, 952 N. Church St. on Saturday, January 4, 2020. Visitation will begin at noon and will last until time of the service at 1 p.m. All are welcome to attend and celebrate Ken’s life.  

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Ken’s name to The American Cancer Society or to the National Audubon Society.

Sullivan Independent News

Sullivan Independent News
411 Scottsdale
Sullivan, MO 63080

Phone: 573-468-6511
Fax: 573-468-4046

 

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