Rollie Loon

Dates

Obituary

Rollie Loon, 85, of Plymouth, MN formerly of Mitchell, SD, died peacefully on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 in Plymouth. The funeral service for Rollie will be 11:00 AM Saturday, November 6, at First Lutheran Church in Mitchell with inurnment at Graceland Cemetery. A celebration of his life will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, November 13, at St. Barnabas Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Rolland “Rollie” Clyde Loon was born August 30, 1936 in Mitchell SD to Magnus (Mac) Loon and Violet Stahl Loon. After their mother passed away in 1944, Rollie and his sister, Lois, were raised by his father and stepmother, Emma (Amy) Amert Loon.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife of over 60 years, Ella Loon, as well as his children Deborah Loon Stumbras (husband Jon) and Douglas Loon (wife Jenifer).

Rollie grew up in Mitchell SD, graduated from Mitchell High School in 1955 and attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls SD for two years. He transferred to the University of South Dakota, where he made lifelong friends in the Beta Theta Pi Fraternity and graduated in 1959 with a BS degree. Rollie served in the Army National Guard for eight years, first in South Dakota and later in California.

Rollie cared deeply for the Mitchell community and the Loon Farms just outside it. He lived in Mitchell for 70 of his 85 years. He first moved away after college graduation. His new employer moved him to San Francisco CA where he met Ella Mae Jasmann, the woman who would become his loving wife and life partner.

Rollie and Ella were married March 25, 1961 in San Francisco at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church. They met over a meal in the boarding house of which they both were residents. When Ella moved out to Daly City with girlfriends, Rollie decided they better get married so they didn’t have such a commute for their frequent dates!

Their children, Deborah and Douglas, were both born in San Francisco. Rollie and his father-in-law, Ed Jasmann, moved the family to San Jose CA in late 1964 while Ella was in the hospital delivering Doug. For over five years, Rollie took the train to work in San Francisco. The family loved camping in the forests of California with church friends and trips to the beach. They made annual cross-country trips in the station wagon to Mitchell. Camping would become a lifelong passion shared by Rollie and Ella.

In 1970, Rollie and Ella moved their young family to Mitchell, where he first joined his father’s car dealership, Loon Motor Company, then became an independent insurance agent.  He was trusted by many Mitchell families and businesses until his retirement in 1999.

Rollie was a great caregiver of family, friends, farms, church and community. He patiently taught his kids how to drive a stick shift, mow the lawn, paint and repair things, pay off your bills, save money, take long walks and strike up a conversation with someone you don’t yet know. Mostly, he showed his kids what it meant to be a dedicated person who loved to meet new people and learn new things every day.

Rollie led many projects at First Lutheran Church, the church his father helped build, including the pipe organ rebuild, stained-glass windows repair, roof replacement and much more. He served on the Board of Trustees, including as President twice, and as Property Chair, Sunday School teacher, Confirmation mentor and Memorial Board member.

Always ready to help guide and care for his community, Rollie served on the Mitchell Planning Commission and several boards of the city. He was elected to the Davison County Board of Commissioners, on which he served eight years. Many community organizations benefited from Rollie’s commitment, including the Dakota Discovery Museum (board member and docent), Elks Club (trustee), Exchange Club (board member), Lions Club (member and president), Mitchell Blood Drive (chair), Moose Club and more. Rollie co-reorganized the Mitchell United Way in 1981 after it had shut down.

Managing the family farm was a true passion for Rollie. He drove out to the country as often as he could to check out the crops and fields, visit with neighbors, manage weeds and just be there.

He loved hunting and fishing with his buddies, his son and granddaughters. From pheasant hunting to walleye fishing on the Missouri River and fly-ins to Canada, he was passionate about the hunt but more so for the fellowship and time spent outdoors.

Rollie and Ella loved to travel. They drove cross-country many times to see family on both coasts, took several cruises including to Alaska, Norway and the Panama Canal, and pulled their fifth wheel camper down south for many winters. Rollie’s curiosity drove him to treasure new surroundings, but he was always most comfortable back home in South Dakota.

Rollie and Ella moved to Plymouth MN in December 2016 to be close to their children and grandchildren. They became residents of Trillium Woods where he made many new friends over morning coffee in the café. Rollie moved into long-term care at the Birches of Trillium Woods in April 2021. He and his family received wonderful care for six months from the loving staff of the Birches and North Memorial Hospice.

Rollie is survived by his loving wife, Ella, as well as his children and their families. Rollie has five grandchildren – Erica Loon (fiancé Michael Jacobs), Rachel Loon, Colin Stumbras (fiancé Taylor Stevens-Reece), Anna Stumbras (partner James Adams), and Claire Jackson Stumbras (husband Greg Jackson Stumbras). He has one great grandson, Nelson Stumbras. Also missing Rollie are his sisters-in-law, Betty Brown and Susan (Rick) Booth, brother-in-law, Donald (Janet) Jasmann, and many nieces and nephews.

Rollie was preceded in death by his parents; as well as his parents-in-law, Edwin and Anne Jasmann; sister, Lois Topping; sister-in-law, Carol Barrett; and brothers-in-law, Charles Barrett, Arthur Brown, and Robert Topping.

Memorials are preferred to First Lutheran Church (Property Fund, Mitchell SD), Lutherans Outdoors of South Dakota, North Memorial Foundation (Hospice Program) or St. Barnabas Lutheran Church (Plymouth MN).

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