Sharon Van Erem Rohrback Obituary

Sharon Lee (Van Erem) Rohrback, was born January 25, 1945, in Ada, Minnesota, the daughter of Arthur and Gertrude (Ysen) Van Erem. She graduated from Waterloo West High School in 1963. Sharon then attended University of Northern Iowa and graduated in 1968. She then moved to the DC area to work at the State Department. While there, she met and married Robert J. Rohrback on October 20, 1973. They had a daughter, Robin C. Rohrback, in 1977. Sharon retired from the State Department and moved with Bob to Roanoke, Virginia in 2005.

Sharon loved flowers and traveling. She and Bob took several overseas tours and brought back mementos and pictures of their trips. If Sharon saw a flower she didn’t know, she would take a picture to identify it. When she got a smartphone, she utilized apps that would identify plants. Sharon was a member of a group of fellow flower lovers.

Sharon was a member of Sons of Norway and held offices, also helping with festivals. Choral Society and choir were other areas that Sharon took part in. Sharon was involved in volunteer work as a docent and going to schools to read to elementary children. If Sharon went on a ride somewhere and saw something of interest, she would make a note and then look up information later.

After moving to Western Home in Cedar Falls, she discovered that she liked playing Hand and Foot Rummikub. And just about every morning she was at Dunkin for breakfast and to do a puzzle and chat with folks.

Sharon passed away on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at the age of 80. She is preceded in death by her husband, Bob and a brother, Art Van Erem, Jr. Sharon is survived by a daughter, Robin Rohrback of Fairfax, Virginia; two sisters, Kathy (Mike) Whalen of Harpers Ferry, Iowa and Georgia (Randy) Henry of Cedar Falls, Iowa and her nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her “adopted” brother, Don Davis and her “adopted” sister, Garnet Mehlert.

No services will be held at this time.