A Memorial Service is pending for David Rex Rollens, 75, Clinton Businessman, with the Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home. Due to the Pandemic a service will be held at a later date.
David Rex Rollens was born June 30, 1945 to Marion Edward Rollens and Evelyn Cooper Rollens in Omaha, Neb. and passed away on Oct. 10, 2020 at the Woodward Alliance Hospital at the age of 75.
He was raised in Kansas City, Kansas. When he was 10 the family moved to Browns Valley, Mn. He lived there until his mother signed for him to enlist in the airforce at the age of 17. He always said he had his diploma before his class at home graduated.
After basic training he was stationed at Clinton Sherman at Burns Flat. He met his wife Doris Gamel at this time. They were married April 16, 1966 at the Baptist Church at Alfalfa, Ok. They lived at Cordell for a short time and they moved to Clinton Sherman AFB. Both of their daughters Denise and Dianna were born at the base hospital. In 1968 Dave was station in the Phillipines for nine months before being honorable discharged.
He moved with his family to Clinton where he worked for Elmer Hinz at Hinz. He started college at Southwester at this time also. He loved college. He recieved two degrees. One in Industrial Arts and one in Speech and Drama. He was in many of the plays at South Western during his college days. He did his student teaching at Clinton High School in Speech. Doris was finishing her degree, so he finished up with master’s in industrial arts and Speech and Drama.
In 1973 the family moved to Kansas City, Kansas where he had a job teaching at Eisenhower Junior High. It was a new school and had a great staff to work with. Besides his classes he helped with speech department when they put on plays. Even though he and Doris were both teaching he started working for Earl Braynt Heating and Air part time. That was after school and weekends. After a long time of this they decide to move to Spicer, Mn where he had been offered a job. His mother, brothers, sisters, aunt, and cousins all lived around the area they moved to. It also had many lakes to fish on. Fishing from the shore and ice fishing during the winter were a favorite of his and his family. That winter they had a lot of snow and very cold tempertures. They decided to go back to Kansas City, Ks in the spring of 1979. Dave went back to work for Braynts and Doris to teaching. In 1980 they move back to Soicer. Mn until one cold winter night Elmer Hinz called him and wanted him to come back to work for him. The familv took a vote and moved back in 1982.
Dave and Doris bought Hinz when Elmer passed away. They spent many hours on the job. He loved the work most of the time. His employees were like family and he treated them that way. His customers were his top priority. He loved to talk and visit with them.
Dave was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. He taught Sunday school, was on the Council, and took on keeping the hedge trimmed with the help of Frank. He loved being there and doing anything he could to help out. He and Doris attended many Via de Cristo weekends in Ark. and Ok. He loved serving and showing God’s love to all. Anywhere he went if he had the opportunity to talk to you about Jesus he would. He was a living testimony of God’s love and grace.
Most important to Dave was his family. He always gave the best advice, and it was seeked many many times. He loved them coming out and grilling for them. He loved going to their birthday parties, the great grandkids soccer games, basketball, softball, volleyball games. He iovec Christmas time. He got to play Santa Claus. He would dress up in his Santa suit for our churches. He would ride the fire truck down main. He had his picture taken with dozens of kids. Some cried but that was all right. He loved every minute of it. His love for his family is what kept him going. When he was out in public or around anyone, he never passed an opportunity to brag on his family. He truly was a familv man!
David was proceeded in death by his father Marion Rollens, his mother Evelyn Rollens Robertson, his brothers Robert Rollens and Pat Masters, Stepbrother Donnie Robertson, Aunts Helen Dew, Loraine Khein, uncle Deanie Cooper.
He is survived by his wife Doris of the home, daughters Denise and John Rogers of Sayre, Dianna Fair of Sayre, Grandchildren Danyal and Lance Walters of Clinton, Bryan Bignell of Colorado, Javid and Ashley Stotler of Clinton, Dustin Hart of Sayre, Delaney and Frank Funk of Clinton, Great grandchildren Delicity Walters, Devyn Walters, Dakota Stotler, Payton Cowell, Darcy Funk all of Clinton, Ayden Hart of Yukon, Benjamin Bignell, Bella Bignell of Colorado, Brother Tommy and Peggy Rollens of Crosby Mn, Sisters Kathy Kussatz-Jakobson Willmar, Mn, Shirley and Jimmy Olsen Calumet, Mn, Debbie Rollens Mount Morris, NM, sister-in -laws Cec Hebeisen, Mn, Mary Fyock Simpson ,Ks Mary Robertson, Mn. His cousins he grew up with and his many nieces and nephews he loved to go see.