2. CHARLES JOSEPH RODRICK was born 6 Jul 1896 in New Haven, Olmsted, MN, USA. He died 1 Oct 1981 in Northfield, Rice, MN, USA and was buried 4 Oct 1981 in Northfield, Rice, MN, USA. CHARLES married FLORENCE META CULVER on 15 Jun 1926 in Dodge Center, Dodge, MN, USA. [Parents]

Obituary taken from the Northfield News: Charles Joseph Rodrick, 85, died
Thursday Oct. 1, 1981 at the Odd Fellows Home. He formerly lived at 1100
Forest Ave.
He was born July 6, 1896, to Varnum and Ida Coalwell Rodrick in New Haven
Township in Olmsted County. He attended New Haven Township schools.
He moved from New Haven Township as a young man and lived in Northfield ever
since. He was employed by St. Olaf College as a drayman for 48 years. He
married Florence Culver on June 15, 1926. She died in 1979.
He served in the armed forces during World War I. He was a member of the
American Legion and St. John's Lutheran Church.
The funeral service was Monday, Oct. 5, at St John's Lutheran Church. The
Rev. Delmar Jacobson officiated. G. Winston Cassler was the organist and
Mayvis Harkness sang.
Interment was in the Oaklawn Cemetary. Pallbearers were Charles Forss, Robert
Lindell, Kent Smith, Douglas Wiese, Laurence Smith and Robert Loos, all
grandsons of the deceased. Honorary pallbearers were Henry Cordes, Dwayne
Kringen and Stanley Ness.
Rodrick is survived by four daughters, Rose Montgomery of Northfield, Ida
Wiese of Vernon Center, Florence Berglund of Loyal, Wisc., and Rita Smith of
Northfield; two sons, Daniel of Davenport, Iowa, and Joseph of Crete, Ill., 21
grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild. He is
also survived by one brother, Arbie, of Byron.
He was preceded in death by two sisters and a brother.
Remarks by his daughter, Rita: Charles, my father, was commonly called "Joe"
by his wife and friends. He was a very tall, big man and has the distinction
of being the longest termed employee that St Olaf College in Northfield has
ever had, working there for over 48 years. His personal history and that of St
Olaf has intertwined for most of his adult life, and on St Olaf's anniversary,
a book was published in which Joe is mentioned several times. His closest
friends were presidents, treasurers, bakers, and cooks at St Olaf and upon his
death, as well as that of his wife, Florence, St Olaf honored him with a
supper and tribute for his immediate family. Years after he had retired, Dad
was a familiar figure around campus as he would make the daily trip up the
"Hill" to check on "His" school. His pride in St Olaf nearly matched his pride
in his children and he was ever willing to talk about either. In earlier
years, Dad served as a cook in the Marines during World War I and was in
Paris, France at war's end. Two treasured possessions survived the war, a
small personal sewing kit and his "black book" of addresses. In the book is a
name that we delighted in teasing Dad about, the name of his "laundress", Fifi
- and that irritated our Mother no end. While still at home in New Haven, he
helped on the family farm and told of wolves howling in the trees, right next
to the field he was working. He spent three years at Warroad, MN with his
father who was working as a lumberman there. Dad told me he had met Mother at
a local dance after he had returned from the service. He entered and, in his
words, "Saw the cutest button in a little gray dress". He courted her for some
time in his horse and buggy and finally proposed after the horses had
overturned the carriage and he and Florence were laying nose to nose - he said
"Florence, I think we'd better get married" and she agreed. Our father was a
kind, gentle man who loved to talk with friend or stranger, and was liked by
all who knew him. The center of my father's life was my mother. Often
irritated by her temper, none-the-less, he loved her to the day she died and
when she was gone, Dad's mind and memory began to leave also. I like to think
they are together, Mom and Dad.

3. FLORENCE META CULVER was born 16 Jul 1901 in Oronoco, Olmsted, MN, USA. She died 15 Nov 1979 in Northfield, Rice, MN, USA and was buried 18 Nov 1979 in Northfield, Rice, MN, USA. [Parents]

Obituary from the Northfield News: Mrs. Joe Rodrick; Florence Rodrick Culver,
a long-time resident of Northfield, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 15, 1979,
at the Minnesota Odd Fellows Home in Northfield. She was 78.
She was born on July 16, 1901, in Olmsted county, the daughter of Daniel and
Rose (Miller) Culver. She attended rural schools in Olmsted county.
As a young woman, Mrs. Rodrick went to work for her brother, Lloyd, at the St
Olaf cafeteria which he was instrumental in starting. While working at St
Olaf, she met Joe Rodrick who was also employed by the college. On June 15,
1926, the couple was married at Dodge Center.
Mr. and Mrs. Rodrick then lived in the house at 1100 Forest Ave for more than
40 years, raising a family of six children. The youngest of these children,
Rita Smith (Mrs. David) still lives in the house with her family.
Two years ago, Joe and Florence moved to the Minnesota Odd Fellows Home in
Northfield.
Besides her employment at St Olaf, Mrs. Rodrick worked at the Laura Baker
school, Northfield Hospital, and the old Off Campus cafe.
She was for many years a member of St. John's Lutheran church in Northfield.
The funeral service was held on Monday, Nov. 19, at St. John's, the Rev.
Delmar Jacobson presiding. G. Winston Cassler was organist and Mrs. Mayvis
Harkness served as vocal soloist.
Interment took place at Oaklawn Cemetery. Arrangements were made by the
Benson-Anderson Funeral Home.
Mrs. Rodrick's grandsons served as pall-bearers. They were Robert LinDell of
Buffalo, Laurence Smith of Minneapolis, Douglas Wiese, Charles Forss and Eric
Stapp, all of Northfield and Robert Loos of Loyal, Wis.
She was preceded in death by her parents, five brothers and one sister.
She is survived by her husband; two sons, Daniel Rodrick of Davenport, Iowa,
and Joe Rodrick, Jr., of Aurora, Colo.; four daughters, Rose Montgomery (Mrs.
Russell) of Northfield, Ida Wiese (Mrs. Maynard) of LaGrange, IL., Florence
Berglund (Mrs. Robert) of Loyal, Wis., and Rita Smith (Mrs. David) of
Northfield; 20 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren, all of whom came to
the memorial service.
Golden Wedding Anniversary taken from the Northfield News: About 450 relatives
and friends of Mr. and Mrs. Charles (Joe) Rodrick called on Sunday afternoon
at an open house given for the couple's golden wedding anniversary. The event
was held at the reception room of Three Links apartments where the Rodricks
now reside.
The open house was given by the couple's six children and all were able to be
present, as well as all 20 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Also a special guest was the maid of honor at the wedding 50 years ago -
Alice Wilson Steege (Mrs. Ted) of Pine Island, a cousin of Rodrick's.
Rodrick's only brother Arvie(misspelled in article - s/b Arbie) Rodrick of
Byron was here. Others who visited the Rodricks were from Illinois, Iowa,
Wisconsin, Colorado and in Minnesota - Pillager, Virginia, Rochester, Oronoco,
Pine Island, Marshall, Waseca, New Ulm, Minneapolis, St Paul, Prior Lake and
Hastings, as well as from this community.
The couple's children took charge of the serving and other aspects of the
entertainment with the oldest daughter, Mrs. Rose Forss making many of the
arrangements. During a brief program, Mayvis Harkness (Mrs. Lloyd) sang. Dan
Rodrick, a son, expressed the welcome and Joseph, another son, introduced the
various members of the family.
The Rodrick's children are: Mrs. Forss of Northfield, Dan of Davenport, Iowa;
Ida Wiese (Mrs. Maynard) of LaGrange, IL; Florence Berglund (Mrs. Bob) of
Loyal, Wis; Joseph of Aurora, Colo.; Rita Smith (Mrs. David) of Northfield.
Mr. and Mrs. Rodrick were married on June 15, 1926, at Dodge Center where a
minister was located of whom both were fond. She was from Oronoco near
Rochester and he was from Pine Island - although he was already living in and
employed in Northfield. The Rodricks have therefore lived here all their
married life.
Until he retired - the first time - ten years ago, Rodrick had been employed
at St Olaf College for 46 years. He has just recently retired again after a
decade of lawn and yard work for a number of Northfielders.

[Child]

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