Roger Espe September 09, 1942 – March 18, 2019 Share this obituary Sign Guestbook| View Guestbook Entries| Send Sympathy Card Roger Espe, age 76, of Decorah, IA died on Monday, March 18, 2019 at his home. Funeral Services will be at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 23, 2019 at the Glenwood Lutheran Church, 1197 Old Stage Road with Rev. Stacey Nalean-Carlson presiding.
Burial will be in the Glenwood East Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m., on Friday, March 22, 2019 at the Schluter Balik Funeral Home, 604 South Avenue in Decorah and also after 10:00 a.m. at the church on Saturday. The Schluter Balik Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Roger Edward Espe was born on September 9, 1942, the son of Robert and Hazel (Halverson) Espe in Decorah, IA. He was baptized and confirmed at the Washington Prairie Lutheran Church. Roger graduated from Decorah High School in 1961.
After high school, Roger enlisted in the US Navy and served for three years. He was stationed in Hawaii and later in Kodiak, AK. Roger was a member of Decorah VFW, Mabel Legion, and the Cattlemans Association.
Roger volunteered for many funeral details and parades. Roger married LeAnn Giesking on September 19, 1964 in Reno, NV. They returned home to Decorah for one year before moving to California where he worked in tool and die.
A few years later they moved back to IA (Albion) where Roger worked construction for LeAnn’s brother. In 1975, they moved to the farm in Glenwood township where they farmed together and raised their three children. Roger enjoyed hunting, fishing, dancing, traveling, cooking and baking.
He and LeAnn cooked fried chicken and pork loin for the VFW, Helping Services of Iowa, and many graduations, confirmations and cancer benefits. He enjoyed raising livestock (beef cattle, chickens, pigs, a few horses) and farming and was very proud of his children. Roger is survived by his wife LeAnn.
Children: Jay (friend: Cindy Rosel) Frankville, IA; Kurt (Lisa) Espe, Manson, IA; Machele (friend: Will TenHaaf) Bollman, LaCrescent, MN. Grandchildren: Roger J-Scott Espe, Shane Meier, Scott Meier, Tiffany Espe, Ray Bollman and Joe Bollman. Siblings: Ardy Steine, DeWitt, IA; Gene Espe, Port Orange, FL; Von (Bill) Cary, Cedar Rapids, IA and Ed (Deb) Espe, Decorah, IA.
Sisters and brothers-in-law: Clarene Schipper, Ackley, IA; Harriet Schares, Janesville, IA; Wendall Giesking, Reinbeck, IA and Clifford (Carolyn) Giesking, Albion, IA along with many nieces and nephews. Roger was preceded in death by his parents: Robert and Hazel (Halverson) Espe. Father and mother-in-law: Carl and Katie Giesking.
Brothers-in-law: Ken Steine, Johnny Schipper and Lloyd Schares. Sister-in-law: Phyllis Giesking.
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