C. Norene Rod

MASON CITY: C. Norene Rod, 95, of Mason City, died Sunday, April 27, 2014 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit. Memorial services will be held 11:00 AM Wednesday, April 30, 2014 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N. Pennsylvania Avenue with Rev. Tom Dettmer officiating. There will be no visitation. Inurnment will take place 11:00 AM Friday, May 2, 2014 at Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to Hospice of North Iowa or Trinity Lutheran Church. Caroline Norene Rod was born May 29, 1918 in Worth County, Iowa, the eldest daughter of Oscar and Inger (Sorbo) Kaase. She was baptized and confirmed at Sion Lutheran Church and graduated from Lake Mills High School in 1935. She attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota graduating in 1939 with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and Math. After college she spent a year substitute teaching in the Lake Mills area. In the fall of 1940 she began teaching full-time in Le Center, Minnesota. From there she moved to Roland, Iowa, where she taught high school math, served as principal for one year, and coached one girls basketball game, they won. On April 24, 1944 Norene married Lt. Herbert L. Rod at Bergan Lutheran Church in Roland. To this union were born five children: Mary, David, Carolyn, Janice and Martha. Norene continued teaching until Herb was discharged from the Army. Norene and Herb lived in Iowa City and Ames before moving to Mason City in 1950. Six years later they returned to Iowa City while Herb did graduate work at the University of Iowa. From there they moved to Decorah, where they spent nine memorable years. The family returned to Mason City in 1967, making their home on Kentucky Court for 34 years. In her later years, Norene lived at Homestead Assisted Living, Cornerstone Assisted Living, and Good Shepherd Health Center. Norene was a longtime member of Trinity Lutheran Church, a faithful worker at the annual bazaar and an active participant in women’s groups. For several years she served as financial recording secretary for the church. Norene was skilled at sewing, knitting and needlework, creating many beautiful items for family and friends. She was an excellent cook and baker, best-known for her kringla and pies. She enjoyed reading, writing letters and spending time (drinking coffee) with friends and family. She and Herb travelled to all 48 continental states during their 57 year marriage. Norene is survived by four of her children; David (Bette) of Coralville, Carolyn of Decorah, Janice of St. Cloud, Minnesota and Martha of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin; sister, Ina of Lake Mills; three grandchildren, Charlie (Kristen), Joel and Emily Rod; 2 great grandchildren, Caroline and Erick Rod; several nieces, nephews and special pets, Buffie and Truffie. Norene was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her daughter Mary, her sister Olga, four nephews, a niece and many friends.

Cemetery:
Lutheran Cemetery, Decorah, Iowa.