DeWyte Roland entered into this world on December 29, 1938, delivered onto a kitchen table in the family home, near Sedgwick, Kansas. He was the third of eight children born to Elmer Wagner Roland and Gladys Mariana Hublitz Roland. He entered into eternity with his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2019, from a hospital bed at Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital, Medicine Lodge, Kansas.
In the 80 years, one month, and sixteen days between his beginning and his ending, DeWyte enjoyed life, his family, and his friends, various occupations and hobbies. He enlisted into the U.S. Army at age seventeen and served four years, 1956 – 1960. These were good years for DeWyte, filled with new experiences, achievements, and memorable happenings.
One of the most important was his acceptance of Jesus Christ as his saviour at age 18, while stationed at Harmon Air Force Base, Stephenville, Newfoundland. After honorable discharge from the Army, DeWyte settled in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, where he met Janet Faye Magnison. They were married June 30, 1962, at Quinter, Kansas, because that is where the Magnison custom harvest crew was cutting wheat that weekend, and he wanted his future brother-in-law to serve as his best man.
Their marriage was blessed with his favorite son, DeWayne Leroy (born December 5, 1964), and later with his favorite daughter-in-law, Kimberly Ann (added December 31, 1988), and ultimately with his favorite granddaughter, Carrie Jan (born September 30, 1996), and then his favorite grandson, LeDale DeWyte (born May 25, 2006). To provide for his family, DeWyte worked at a variety of jobs and occupations: the local wallboard plant, lumberyard, oilfield, construction, farm hand, and over-the-road truck driver. He owned his own welding business for sixteen years, and then worked as custodian and maintenance supervisor for the local school district twelve years, retiring in 2001.
He enjoyed working with his hands to repair most anything, and to create things new. He especially enjoyed hobbies involving metal and wood, and was just beginning to pass his knowledge of woodworking on to his grandson, Lee. His grandchildren were a special joy to him, teaching and sharing, fishing, camping, and being in attendance at any activity in which they were involved.
He was there to encourage with a wink and a thumbs-up. He felt it a true privilege and blessing to have lived just across the yard from his son and his family from before either of the grandchildren were born, watching them grow and being a presence in their lives. DeWyte began faithful church attendance in 1983.
He soon found his voice and for the next thirty-five years shared that gift at every opportunity, sometimes solo, sometimes with a choir or in a quartet or duet, and even sometimes with his granddaughter, Carrie Jan. Whether by design or coincidence, the first and last song he sang at church was “I’m Free (from the fear of tomorrow …. from the guilt of the past …… praise the Lord, free at last)”.
His voice was also heard for ten years on KREJ Radio, co-hosting Supper Time Gospel. His 80th birthday was an important milestone and the occasion was celebrated with an appropriate party. On December 29, 2018, DeWyte had achieved the status of being the longest-lived Roland male in his immediate ancestry.
He had battled successfully three separate cancers and several major surgeries, always giving credit to “God, my wife, and my doctors for getting me this far”. This time, however, it was to be different; it was time and no one failed him – not his God, not his wife, nor the doctors. It was just simply his time to be called home.
DeWyte Roland was preceded in death by his parents and his wife’s parents; three brothers – Gail, Frank, and Larry Roland; two sisters – Wilma Higgins and Anna Mary Perry. He is survived by one brother, Charles (Judy) Roland of West Plains, Missouri, and one sister, Veneta (Bill) Chapin of Hutchinson, Kansas. He is also survived by his wife of 56-plus years, Janet; their son, DeWayne and daughter-in-law, Kim; granddaughter, Carrie Jan, and grandson, Lee; and by many special nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 19, 2019 from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., with family present from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Larrison Funeral Home, 120 E. Lincoln, Medicine Lodge, KS 67104. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, February 20, 2019, 10:00 a.m., at Community Bible Fellowship in Medicine Lodge. Kansas; with interment in Highland Cemetery, Medicine Lodge, Kansas (right next to the Bank Robber).
Military honors will be conducted by the U.S. Army Honor Guard. DeWyte was a faithful and supportive member of Faith Baptist Church in Attica, Kansas, for twenty-three years; the services will be conducted by the pastor of that church, Pastor Jason A. Byars. Pallbearers will be his son and grandchildren, DeWayne, Carrie and Lee Roland, nephews, Flint Rucker of Medicine Lodge, Kansas, and Dan Roland of Park City, Kansas, and Jeremy Casper of Attica, Kansas, a member of his church family.
Music performed during the service includes “I’m Free” and “Wasted Years”. Congregational songs will include “Where We’ll Never Grow Old,” “What A Day That Will Be,” “Where the Roses Never Fade,” and “Life’s Railway to Heaven”. The family designated memorials to Faith Baptist Church, Attica, Kansas, and the Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital in care of Larrison Funeral Home.
Condolences may be left at www. larrisonmortuary.com.
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