Harlan Rohne, age 69, of London, left this life on Thursday, March 29, 2012, at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester. He was born to Arthur and Alice (Peterson) Rohne on July 15, 1942, at St. Olaf Hospital in Austin. Harlan was confirmed at Six Mile Grove Church in rural Lyle and graduated from Lyle High School in 1960. Harlan was married to Charlotte A. Wogstad on July 24, 1961, until her passing. On June 5, 1993, he married Jan Howe.

Harlan was an avid and proficient carpenter and an accomplished builder of structures and cabinetry. Many pieces of furniture in his house were hand crafted by him. He was also employed by the Oliver Tractor Company in Charles City, Iowa. He enjoyed golf, fishing, hunting, camping, horseshoes and most of all his family, who always came first. Harlan was the former fire chief of the London fire department. He was an accomplished athlete in his youth, achieving the honor of being one of the top 12 hitters on the baseball team of the Lyle schools from 1939 until 1995. He also played fast pitch softball in the church league and was a serious snowmobiler, belonging to the snowmobile club, Lords of London. He spent many seasons at the Wise Stop campground with his loving wife, Jan. A very non-judgmental person, Harlan made everyone feel welcome at his home, generally inviting them for a cup of coffee, soft drink or a frosty cold Schmitz beer. When you would arrive, Harlan would say, “Well, you want one?” His beloved and devoted dogs Buddy and Suzie were at his side constantly at home, camping or recreating in any way.

Survivors include his wife Jan of London; his children Roger (Natalie) Wogstad of Lyle, Rodney (Heidi) Wogstad of Austin, Robin (Bob) Mittag of Lyle; step-children Kelly (Randy) Ehlke of St. Ansgar, Iowa, Patrick Howe of Dallas, Texas, Harold (Andrea) Howe of Redfield, Iowa, Kenneth (Robin) Howe of St. Ansgar; many grandchildren, step grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews; his mother Alice Rohne of Lyle; brothers Robert (Mary Lou) Rohne and Eugene Rohne of Lyle, Terry (Nancy) Rohne of Austin. He was preceded in death by his father Arthur and his first wife Charlotte.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Lyle with the Rev. Barbara Finley-Shea officiating. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday at Worlein Funeral Home in Austin and one hour prior to the service at the church. Casket bearers are David Johnson, Ron Lee, Bob Kaput, Trent Murphy, Gene Kline and David Kline. Honorary casket bearers will be the grandchildren. Interment will be in Woodbury Cemetery, Lyle Township. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.

“You have each been given a bag of tools, a formless rock and a book of rules, and each must make, ere life has flown a stumbling block or a stepping stone.”