John D. "Bud" Rodekohr

Funeral services for John D. “Bud” Rodekohr, age 93, of Battle Creek, Nebraska will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 8, 2026, at St. John Lutheran’s Church in Battle Creek. Reverend Eric Gradburg and Reverend Wayne Larson will officiate, with burial in St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery in Battle Creek.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.

Steffen Mortuary in Battle Creek is in charge of arrangements. 

The funeral will be livestreamed on the funeral home website.

It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of our father John D. “Bud” Rodekohr, who departed this life on Thursday, January 1, 2026, at the age of 93.

John was born October 16, 1932, on the family farm west of Battle Creek, Nebraska to Arthur and Helen (Brase) Rodekohr. 

John lived his life in faith, a lifelong member of St. John’s Lutheran Church of Battle Creek, he was baptized, confirmed, married and we will celebrate his life at St. Johns. He attended St. John’s Lutheran School and Battle Creek High School where he served as class president his sophomore and senior year, graduating in 1950. John was active in sports, lettering in football, basketball and track.

He was an excellent student, received a Regent’s Scholarship, and attended the University of Nebraska, until he was called home to help on the family farm. The next year John was drafted into the U.S. Army where he proudly served from 1953 to 1955, stationed primarily in Mannheim, Germany. 

John married Donna L. Hester on November 28, 1964, and they had 59 wonderful years together. They lived on the family farm, raising their three children, Tim, Kathy and David. John lived and loved farming, raising livestock, starting one of the first confinement hog operations in the area. He enjoyed traveling with his wife Donna and reading. 

John gave back to the community that meant so much to him. He was a Board of Trustee of St. John’s Lutheran church, was an usher, and sang in the church choir most of his life. John was a lifelong member of the VFW and American Legion, serving as commander of the Battle Creek Legion, and proudly served in the Color Guard. 

John is survived by two children, Kathy Kruse (Clark Fairbanks) of Sheridan WY, and David Rodekohr (Laura Tech) of Battle Creek, NE; two sisters, Joan Freudenburg and Marcy Lee Bartee; five grandchildren, Dustin and Skylar Rodekohr, Alicia Jones, and Anthony and Tim Fairbanks; and six great-grandchildren.   

He was preceded in death by his wife, Donna; son, Tim; and five sisters, Margie, Dorthy, Helen, Artie and Annette. 

His quick wit and generous smile will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

John wished any memorials to be directed to St. John’s Lutheran School in Battle Creek, giving a future generation the possibility to receive an education and spiritual foundation that he and his family were blessed to have.   

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