Craig M. Rohde

On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, 6:13 p.m., Craig Martin Rohde has successfully achieved room temperature, perhaps even lower, and pronounced as no longer among the living. While there may be some type of certificate for this event, he did hope there would not be any gaudy statuesque award, so a proper piece of paper with all the particulars will suffice.

Some time ago, he started out as a baby born to his mother, Marjorie Louise Rohde (Crompton) and Arlow Spicer Rohde in Ottawa, IL at around 8:30 AM on November 2, 1948, in the fine establishment of Ryburn Memorial Hospital. He once had recalled the event to have been on a Tuesday and was late for breakfast, yet it was the best room service he ever had!! From that point on, enjoyment of life as a kid was celebrated on Madison Street across from and attending Lincoln School and then later on Wacker Drive while attending Central and Ottawa Township Schools.

Somehow, halfway through his senior year at OTHS, he managed to accumulate enough credits to become an OTHS graduate for the class of 1966. (Honestly, he didn't pay anyone off!!) The extra credits were attained by attending summer school classes so there was nothing left to do during the final semester but to have fun playing "Hooky" and scampering about on his red & silver Honda Super 90. He only attended classes when he was tired and out of cash to keep the Honda running!!

It didn't make any difference what he did that final year as there was already a secured employment position with the FBI upon graduation. (Maybe that scared 'em.) Having bounced around with various employment associations with Clark Oil, Pizza Hut, Szabo Food Service and Illinois Fruit & Produce, he was down to his last dollar and somehow managed to fund attendance at Kishwaukee Junior College in DeKalb, IL. He maintained a 3.98 GPA in Math, Science, Business and Liberal Arts and was elected as VP of Phi Beta Kappa. Then absolutely broke and not able to complete College, he entered into a satisfactory agreement with the Department of Defense and enlisted with the United States Navy in late July 1982, for what turned out to be a fantastic career with the Naval Oceanography Command. Since his Navy Rating in the Weather Division was overmanned, he became eligible for early retirement, with pension, and did so on October 31, 1998. He then goofed around for some time and eventually was employed in the Communications Division of LaSalle County Sheriff Department in January 2001 then retired permanently in June 2012.

Craig was beaten to the goalposts by his Grandparents, David "Ned" & Carrie Crompton, Martin Rohde & Gracie Driscoll, parents Arlow S. Rohde & Marjorie, a brother David A. Rohde his niece Debra Barra, his nephew Davie Hougas and several other cool relatives.

As of today, he is outlived by his daughter Caryn Shoen & her husband John Shoen, a granddaughter, Josie Shoen, a sister Colleen M. Rohde, a brother Joseph K. Rohde and a grand assortment of many Nephews, Nieces, several Great and Great-Great Nephews and Nieces too numerous to mention here. It would seem as though some folks were quite busy making bacon!! What a fantastic group of kids.

He truly is looking (figure of speech) forward to residing at his new residence located at Oakwood Memorial Park, complete with a new roof over his head and best part of all, no monthly utilities to pay.

All are invited to pay their respects from 10 AM to Noon Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home followed by a memorial service at noon with the Rev. Seamus Enright officiating. Military Honors will be accorded at Oakwood Memorial Park by the Ottawa American Legion Post 33 Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Illinois Cancer Institute or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. To share a memory, please visit www.gladfelter-roetker.com or Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home on Facebook.