Jon E. Rohde

Jon Rohde, 68, of Appleton, passed away peacefully with his family at his side on Saturday, May 19, due to complications from surgery at the UW Hospital in Madison.

He was born June 7, 1949 to Evan and Lynda(Wandtke) Rohde. Jon graduated from Manawa Little Wolf High School in 1967. On October 14, 1990, he married the love of his life, Judy Strebe, at Farmington Lutheran Church in Waupaca, WI. He was a graduate from the Milwaukee Area Technical College with a Bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management. He first worked as the assistant food director at the University of Illinois Circle Campus in Chicago and then at the Inn at Sleeping Bear in Glen Arbor, Michigan as a chef. He came back to Wisconsin and worked at Simpson’s of Waupaca as a chef. In Appleton, he was the chef and manager at the Red Ox and finally the banquet and catering chef at Michiels Fox Rivertyme Banquet and catering until he retired in 2012. Jon and his wife, Judy, were co-owners of Passport Travel in Waupaca, of which he was very proud.

Jon enjoyed cooking, traveling and spending time with his family, especially his nieces and nephews, whom he was particularly fond of spoiling. He will be remembered for his sense of humor, quick wit and sassy personality.

Jon is survived by his wife, Judy(Strebe) Rohde of Appleton; sisters, Sue Hein of Manawa and Kathie(Thomas) Adler of Hubertis; brother-in-law James(Margo) Strebe of Little Rock, Arkansas, sister-in-law Joni(Michael) Radley of Waupaca; nieces and nephews: Larry Hein of Manawa; Kristine(James Burch) Hein of Appleton, Bryan(Christie) Adler of Belleville; Stacey(Greg) Otwell of Little Rock, Arkansas, Kari(Paul) Phillips of Little Rock, Arkansas, Ann(Jeff) May of Little Rock, Arkansas, Ashley(Holden) Gerner of Beaver Dam, Alana Radley of Waupaca; great-nieces and nephews: Aurora and Daimen Adler, Alexandra and Caroline Otwell, McKenzie, Kennedy and Hallie Phillips, Sydney May and Piper Gerner. He was preceded in death by his parents, Evan and Lynda Rohde, and in-laws Robert and Alma(Hibsch) Strebe.

A funeral service for Jon will be held on Friday, May 25 at 11:30am at Zion Lutheran Church in Manawa with Pastor Carol Neitzel officiating. A visitation will be held Friday morning from 9:00am until 11:30am. A private family burial will take place at Farmington Lutheran Cemetery in Waupaca. Maple Crest Funeral Home of Waupaca is serving the family. www.maplecrestfh.com.

Jon’s family would like to express their sincerest gratitude to his doctors, Dr. Paul DiMusto and Dr. Jon Matsumara, as well as his entire care staff at UW Madison TLC. A memorial has been established.

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