About John Roll, Sr....

John Roll, Sr. was born on January 11, 1912, on a farm east of Jeffers, Minnesota to Peter and Alice (Bruns) Roll. He was baptized and attended country school in Bingham Lake where he graduated in 1930 from Bingham Lake High School. He celebrated seventy-eight years of all school reunions.

On October 3, 1941, John was united in marriage to Bernice Irene Dockendorf. John worked for the Bingham Lake Elevator until enlisting in the United States Army on December 7, 1943. He served two years in France at the Battle of Bulge and in Germany in the Hutger Forest. In 1945, after receiving the Purple Heart and being honorably discharged, John returned to the area to start farming. In 1958, he purchased the farm he resided upon until his death. In 1979, Bernice passed away after a long fight with cancer. John actively farmed with his son John and grandson Clay until the early 1990’s when he began to rent his farm to Clay who is farming it at the present time.

In the morning hours of Saturday, October 4th, 2008, John became ill at his farm in rural Windom and was taken to the Windom Area Hospital where he passed away a short time later with his family at his bedside at the wonderful age of 96!!

John was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Windom and a lifetime member of the American Legion Post #206 in Windom. He enjoyed his family and many friends and until recently, enjoyed a weekly bus trip to Flandreau.

John's grateful family includes his one son, John M. Roll (Peggy) of Bingham Lake; one daughter, Sandra Rademacher (Harlan) of Lakefield; four grandchildren, Clay Roll (Melissa) of Bingham Lake; Mindy Weeks (Todd) of Wentzille, MO; Brian Rademacher (Michelle) of Prior Lake; Nicole Bretzman (Travis) of Round Lake; nine great-grandchildren; one sister, Terena Bottema of Bingham Lake; one sister-in-law, Mildred Roll of Windom; and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

John is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Bernice Roll; one great-granddaughter; two brothers, Hank and Bruno Roll; and two sisters, Jennie and Gertie Dunkelberger.

Blessed be the memory of John Roll, Sr.