Mark Rolwing

CHARLESTON, Mo. -- Mark F. Rolwing, 82, of Charleston died Tuesday, Nov. 29, 2011, at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau.

He was born Feb. 22, 1929, to Otto Joseph and Ethel Newcum Rolwing. He lived in Charleston his entire life where he was a member of St. Henry Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus.

As a landowner and farmer, he farmed land in Mississippi County at Texas Bend and Thompson Bend.

He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean conflict.

Rolwing served as president of the Mississippi County Farm Bureau many years and was a delegate for the local MFA Oil Co. Several of his innovative designs to improve the usefulness of farm equipment are currently used in farm equipment production.

He married Mary Kathryn Thomason on Aug. 21, 1954.

Survivors include his wife; four sons and daughters-in-law, Jim and Ann Rolwing, Fred and Kathy Rolwing, Richard and Beth Rolwing, and Clifford and Sharon Rolwing, all of Charleston; a brother, Norbert Rolwing of Charleston; two sisters, Margaret Stricker of Lusk Chapel, Mo., and Rosemary Orr of Kirkwood, Mo.; eight grandchildren, Stephen (Angie) Groves, Summer Groves, Andrea (Seth) Rowland, Jennifer Rolwing, Hannah Rolwing, Heath Rolwing, Eric Rolwing and Ryan Rolwing; and four great-grandchildren, Noah, Jada, Carson and Jayci.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, John Francis Rolwing and Patrick Newcum Rolwing; and two sisters, Sister Helen Rolwing O.S.U. and Major Miriam Rolwing, USAF.

Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. today at McMikle Funeral Home in Charleston.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Henry Catholic Church, with Monsignor Richard Rolwing of Cape Girardeau serving as celebrant. Missouri Military Honor Guard will conduct graveside rites at Texas Bend Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Ron Rolwing, Carl Stricker, Tim Rolwing, Steve Orr, Charles Moxley and Jim Pobst.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Henry Catholic School, 306 Court St., Charleston, MO 63834.

Online condolences may be shared at www.mcmiklefuneralhome.com.