Leona Louise, daughter of Bernhardt and Anna (Dreher) Meislahn, was born September 14, 1924, at Gray, in Audubon County, Iowa. She attended school in Gray, completing the 12th grade. Leona then worked as the secretary at the school, at the Gray grocery store and at Safeway in Carroll.
On October 27, 1953, Leona was united in marriage with Eugene Edward Rohe at Sacred Heart Church in Templeton. They lived in Carroll for a short time before moving to a farm east of Gray. In the early 1960s, they moved to their farm southeast of Manning, the former Hugo Brus farm, where they farmed and raised their seven children. After 31 years there, in 1993, they retired and moved into their new home in Manning located on the former elementary school lot.
Leona was a member of Sacred Heart Church, where she was active with the Altar Society, and prepared many funeral luncheons and snacks for CCD. She enjoyed being a farmwife and was a skilled cook, baker, gardener and canner. Above all, Leona cherished the time she spent with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
After Gene passed away on July 3, 2010, Leona was able to remain in their home until February of 2019. She spent a short time at Accura Healthcare in Manning before becoming a resident of SunnyBrook in Carroll where she passed away on Sunday, January 24, 2021. Leona was 96 years, 4 months and 10 days of age.
Preceding her in death are her parents; husband Gene Rohe in 2010; two sons Mike Rohe and Merlin Rohe, both in 2006; son-in-law Charles Erlbacher; brothers: Chris (Alice) Meislahn; Alvin (Barbara) Meislahn; Herman (Irene) Meislahn; sisters: Selma (Francis) Bosche; and Gertrude Meislahn; five brothers-in-law: Vernon Rohe; Norbert (Bertille) Rohe; Glen (Millie) Rohe; Wayne (Esther) Rohe; and Richard Morrell; and sister-in-law Martha Rohe.
She is survived by three daughters: Mary Lou (Steve) Wieland of Westside; Doris Erlbacher of Dow City; and Diane (Kevin) Teno of Creston; two sons Ken Rohe of Manning and Keith Rohe of Templeton; daughter-in-law Mary Rohe of Manning; 16 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; sister Evelyn Morrell of Fleming Island, Florida; sister-in-law Vi Rohe of Manning; and by many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. www.ohdefuneralhome.com