Roland Born

Roland "Rollie" Born, age 94, of St. Clair died on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at Hillcrest Health Care Center in Mankato.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 11, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. Clair with Reverend Matthew Grunewald officiating. Interment will be held at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery in St. Clair.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, May 10, 2015 from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. at Arnoldt-McRaith Funeral Home & Crematory in Janesville and for one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.

Roland Otto, son of George and Martha (Otto) Born, was born on March 21, 1921 in Mankato, MN. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. He attended school at Eagle Lake Elementary and at Franklin in Mankato. He was united in marriage to Ila Mae Kopke on November 30, 1944 at St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in St. Clair. Following his schooling, he was a Fuller Brush Salesman for a couple years before he started farming the Kopke Farm 5 miles south of St. Clair. He worked for Mrs. Reedfield's Costume Company in Mankato transporting Native American costumes for the Indian Drum & Bugle Corps to events around the country. He and Ila Mae went to New York City for the National American Legion Convention in 1947 and had the honor of carrying the Indian flag in the parade. Roland later worked as a feed salesman for Moorman's Feed, from which he retired in 1983 after 23 years of service. In 1978, Roland was named the Top Minnesota Laker Salesman for Moorman's Feed. Roland was involved in Boys Scouts, the Walter League, and was the trustee for St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church for 3 years.

Rollie enjoyed playing cards, dancing, fishing, traveling and spending time at the family cabin at Lake Francis. He and Ila Mae spent 16 winters in Mesa, AZ. Time spent with family and friends was very special to him. Rollie lived his last 3 years of life at Oak Terrace Assisted Living playing cards and making new friends.

Roland is survived by his children, Dean (Connie) Born of Slidell, LA, Karen (Kirk) Messier of Iowa City, IA, and Randy (De) Born of rural St. Clair; grandchildren, Troy (Windi) Born and their children, First and America of Acworth, GA, Travis (Tori) Born and their children, Isabella and Gavin of Slidell, LA, Case Born of Slidell, LA, Jennifer (George) Sanchez and their children, Seth and Hanna of Washington State, Alecia (Todd) Hodgkinson and their daughter, Francesca of Des Moines, IA, Jason (Jessica) Messier of Iowa City, IA, Adam Born of Mankato, Billy Craig of rural St. Clair, and Dena Craig of Minneapolis; and by many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Martha Born; his wife, Ila Mae Born, and by his brother, Wayne Born.