John Joseph Rodecap

John Joseph Rodecap, 80, of Decorah, Iowa passed away Thursday, April 6, 2023 at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah, Iowa. John was born January 9, 1943 to Joseph Henry and Sylvia Caroline (Johansen) Rodecap in Aurora, Illinois. He was baptized on May 30, 1943 and confirmed on April 14, 1957 at Nazareth Lutheran Church in Coulter, Iowa. John graduated from Clarion High School in 1960, Iowa State University in May of 1964, and also earned his Master’s Degree from the University of Wisconsin in June of 1969.

On June 14, 1969, John was united in marriage with Joyce Huffman in Creston, Iowa. They later divorced. John was united in marriage with Roberta Schutte-Dreier on August 26, 2000 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville, Iowa.

Throughout the years, John was the Iowa State University Extension Director of Winneshiek County and he also managed water quality projects and did consulting work for ISU. He was very involved with Brown Swiss dairy cattle breeding and sold bulls and semen around the world. His scientific interest in genetics combined with his hobby of breeding led to the development of beneficial traits in the Brown Swiss breed. John served on the Board of Directors of Decorah Bank and Trust, the NICC Dairy Advisory Board, and the Winneshiek County Board of Adjustment. He also served on the Church Council, Endowment Board, and Finance Committee of St. Paul Lutheran Church.

John had a love for agriculture, conservation, and forestry. Education was very important to him, and he established endowed scholarships at Decorah High School, NICC, and Iowa State University. He also volunteered with Helping Services and assisted with their holiday lights display for many years. John enjoyed feeding his cattle and cats with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and taking them for rides on the tractor. He also loved taking them to Phelps Park, Dunning’s Spring, and feeding the fish with them at the Fish Hatchery. Despite his lifelong ties to Iowa State, John was an Iowa Hawkeyes fan. Every Sunday night for decades, you could find him eating a regular, no pepperoni, double cheese pizza at Mabe’s.

Surviving John are his wife, Roberta Rodecap of Decorah, Iowa; his children, Janette (Jeremy Wieck) Rodecap of Kansas City, Missouri, Brian (Stacy) Rodecap of Ft. Myers, Florida, Anisa (Michael) Ashbacher of Decorah, Iowa, Melissa Eilers of Bangor, Wisconsin and Randy Dreier of Postville, Iowa; eleven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one sister, Nadene (Bruce) Lautenschlager of Marshfield, Wisconsin; and many nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Sylvia Rodecap; stepmother, Beulah Rodecap; and one sister, Marlene Roberts. John and his family greatly appreciated the care he received from his doctors and nurses, especially Keegan Luzum with Winneshiek Medical Center Hospice. She was a great comfort to them in his final days.

A Visitation will be held from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday, April 13, 2023 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville, Iowa. There will also be a one hour visitation before services at the church on Friday.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 am on Friday, April 14, 2023 at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Postville, Iowa with Rev. Lynn Noel as the officiant. Burial will follow in the Postville Cemetery, Postville, Iowa.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to Helping Services or Winneshiek Medical Center Hospice.

Schutte-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Postville, Iowa is assisting the family with services.

Click here to visit the Schutte-Grau Funeral Home website.