Kenneth R. Rohde, age 74, passed away on Friday, January 27, 2023, at Aurora Medical Center. He was
born in Sheboygan to the late Reinhold and LaVerne (Altschwager) Rohde. He graduated from Howards
Grove High School. Throughout the years, Ken was employed at Lakeland College and Cesars
Distributing. Volunteering was a huge part of Ken’s life as he was involved in the Lions Club, Community
Players (Sheboygan Theatre Company), and the Sheboygan County Fair.
The Howards Grove Lions Club was a big part of who Ken was, being the past president, past district
governor from 1993 until 1994 and one of the last two remaining charter members. He was a proud Lion
and helped in every aspect, attending the zone meetings and conventions and being a part of the Blind
Sailing events. He was the Lion who picked up donated glasses from 2 local funeral homes and was a
part of the eye tissue transporters team and would deliver them to statewide hospitals where recipients
would await. He was also a part of the vision testing crew for children at local schools. The village of
Howards Grove would hold an annual Memorial Day Service and brat fry that Ken was proud to help
organize.
He enjoyed watching and collecting movies. He also loved following various sports teams, including the
Green Bay Packers, Milwaukee Brewers and local schools and college teams. Ken was a natural
caregiver, taking care of his mother from 2006 until her death in 2022, never wanting her in a nursing
home. He will be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his sisters, Kathleen (James) Kalk and Karen Thiessen; nieces and nephews, Dena
(Bill) Hendrikse, Chad (Karen) Kalk, Tami (Todd) Stoffregen, Gary (Kim) Kalk, Thomas Kalk, Matthew
Thiessen, Sonja (Brian) Byers and Aimee Beilgard; and great-nieces and nephews.
Along with his parents, Ken was preceded in death by his step-father, Melvin Starck and a brother-in-law
Terry Thiessen.
A Funeral Service for Ken will be held on Friday, February 3, 2023, at 2:00 PM at Zimmer Westview
Funeral Home & Cremation Care Center, W2132 Garton Rd in Sheboygan, with Pastor Nathan Athorp
officiating. Family will greet visitors on Friday, at the funeral home from 1:00 PM until the time of the
service. For those who would like to attend the services for Ken virtually, can do so on his obituary page
on the funeral home website. Entombment will take place at the Gardens of Peace Mausoleum in Kohler.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Ken’s name.
The family would like to thank the Howards Grove First Responders, including the paramedics and
medical staff at Aurora Medical Center for the excellent care given to Ken.
To leave an online condolence for the family, please visit www.zimmerfuneralhome.com
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