Roger L. Mollenbeck

Roger L. Mollenbeck, 51, of 1207 3rd St. NE, Hampton, died Wednesday (February 18, 2004) at home. Funeral services will be held 10:30 AM Saturday at the First United Methodist Church, 119 S. Georgia, with Rev. Jim Stiles, Rev. Jo Frahm-Watkins First United Methodist Church and Rev. Arthur J. Zewert, Zion Reformed Church officiating. Following cremation, inurnment will take place at a later date in Zion Reformed Church Cemetery, rural Sheffield. Visitation will be from 5:00 to 8:00 PM Friday at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue and continue at the church one hour before services. Memorials may be given to the Roger Mollenbeck Memorial Fund. Roger was born July 15, 1952 in Hampton the son of Dale and Norma (Madsen) Mollenbeck. He was baptized at Zion Reformed Church by Rev. Johann Schmidt. He attended church and Sunday School as a child and young man. His first experiences as an organist were in his home church playing for Sunday evening services. Roger joined the church after finishing catechism classes. Roger graduated from CAL Community High School, Latimer and earned his music degree from Northwestern College, Orange City, in May of 1974. He served the following school systems as a vocal music teacher, Nora Springs-Rock Falls, Belmond, Fairfax County (Virginia), Ballard of Huxley, Clear Lake and Meservey-Thornton-Sheffield-Chapin. He also worked at the Hampton-Dumont Community Schools as choral pianist for the middle and high school choirs. His church music work included Zion Reformed Church, rural Sheffield; American Reformed Church, Orange City; First Christian Church, Mason City; National City Christian Church, Washington DC; Immanuel United Church of Christ, Latimer; Messiah Lutheran Church, Mason City; First Congregational United Church of Christ, Mason City and was currently the director of music and organist at First United Methodist Church, Mason City. Roger was the organist for thousands of Sunday services during his lifetime. He was the organist for hundreds of weddings and funeral services. Roger was the ?on call? organist for many of the funeral homes in North Iowa. He was currently the chapel organist with Major Erickson Funeral Home, Mason City. Roger enjoyed traveling and family history research. Roger wrote a book entitled, ?Mollenbeck Family History? in 1983. His travels took him to almost every state in the United States, Canada and Europe. Roger enjoyed visiting the town of Mollenbeck, Germany on several occasions. He especially took pleasure in touring the Mollenbeck Reformed Church there. Northwestern College, Orange City, twice honored Roger. The first was the Music Alumni Award in 1992 and the second an invitation to present the Tulip Festival Organ Concerts in 2000. Roger was an active member of the North Iowa Chapter, American Guild of Organists, where he had been an officer. His church membership was with Zion Reformed Church. The church centennial was held in 1990 and he was active with the new organ committee, historical committee and the centennial music series. Roger is survived by his mother, Norma Mollenbeck of Hampton; 2 sisters, Cindy Lind of Newton, Tami Ballhagen and husband Kevin of Sheffield; brother, Todd Mollenbeck and wife Linda of Latimer; nieces and nephews, Christopher and Kelly Lind, Trevor Mollenbeck, Mark, Shelby and Carley Ballhagen. Roger was preceded in death by his grandparents, father, Dale; 2 nephews, Travis Ballhagen and Cody Mollenbeck

Visitation:
5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Major Erickson Funeral Home on February 20, 2004 (map/driving directions) 5:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Major Erickson Funeral Home on February 18, 2004 (map/driving directions)

Service:
10:30 AM at First United Methodist Church on February 21, 2004 (map/driving directions)