Jeanette Rohde
Jeanette I. (Fink) Rohde, 90, of Caledonia, MN passed away peacefully in her home June 3, 2018 surrounded by the love of her family and ready to join her heavenly family. Mom did not want a funeral. Please, with any thoughts of Jeanette, “save your pennies” or give to a charity of your choice. Her wisdom and laughter she lovingly passed onto us all.
She was born July 22, 1927 along with her twin sister, Geneva, in rural Lansing to Leo and Lydia (Meyer) Fink. Jeanette played basketball at Lansing High School with Geneva, graduating in 1945. Opportunity called, moving her to Kansas City, KS. While working as a secretary, she met an older couple who became lifelong friends. She was 27 years old when asked to manage their hotel/cafe in Nisswa, MN. She was later joined by her youngest sister. Hard work and many happy memories were made with her sister, young daughter, nieces and nephews (who came to work and play during the summer).
Later, her children-to-be would visit before she married their father, Irv Lester Rohde, in Detroit Lakes, MN. That made a houseful of five children, later adding two more. Longing to be near her Iowa family, a move to Caledonia, MN became apparent in 1965.
She worked at Caledonia Soil Conservation, Sprague National Bank, Von Arx Law Offices, and retired from Merchants Bank. She was known for her smile, humor and “good morning wishes”. Some of the amazing characteristics Jeanette was known for included having two jobs outside her busy home, walking everywhere, gardening, and canning out of necessity and joy. She had a sharp mind and gave credit to doing cross word puzzles daily. She also did the books for their family businesses.
Music was Mom’s joy (passion), and with music came dancing. How she loved dancing with her twin, no matter where they were. She passed this love down to her family and a song “Dancing in the Kitchen with Grandma” was made. She continued her love for basketball with her three younger sons, listening to the radio in D.L. or going to games in Caledonia, MN.
Being “Home”, she spent some of her best times at family gatherings, going to yard sales and having them with her twin. Twin-o-ramas and dressing alike gave them new joy. Humor and laughter were always contagious when the Fink twins were present. Many of her children and family came to visit. She visited her adult children and families in states as far as Nevada, California, Hawaii and Alaska, mostly traveling with her twin. Precious times and many moments of happiness came during these visits.
Mom felt blessed that her children, daughter-in-law, twin’s daughters and granddaughter made it possible for her to stay in her home. Grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends visited her with love and great company. What an honor and loving experience we all felt as she continued with lessons of life, saying: “A day without laughter is a day wasted”.
Her faith in God never wavered. Prayer was the foundation of her faith. Mom frequently said, “It’s never so bad that it can’t get worse”. Yet her message to us all was to live according to the “Golden Rule”. She wrote daily journals with her beautiful handwriting.
Jeanette was preceded in death by her mother and father; her siblings and their spouses: Raymond (Lenore) Fink, Ethel (Arthur) Fritz, Dorothy (Dale) Foster, Lester (Marie) Fink, LaVern Fink, Leland Fink, Geneva (Robert) Johnson and Betty Ann (Curtis) Gramlich. She was preceded in death by her son, Wayne (Phyllis, survived) Rohde and survived by her children, Carmen Rohde, Linda Kirk, Michael (Bernice) Rohde, Denise (Glenn, deceased) Rohde-Killoran, LaVern Rohde and Scot Rohde; 26 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren and many beloved nieces, nephews and friends.
