Bio: Rohloff, Ed (Insurance Agent - 1974)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Rohloff, Wolter, Abel, Lauenstein

----Source: Tribune Record Gleaner (Loyal, Clark Co., WI) 10/03/1974

Rohloff, Ed (Insurance Agent - 1974)

Mingling with Mary (By Mary Woods)



Today in our society there seems to be very few things that a person can get along without, whether it is material possessions or financial value. Along the same line those possessions mean a lot to the owner in order to guard them he gets them insured through a company he can trust, and understand and in the TRG area, American Family Insurance Company is privileged to have Ed Rohloff as their representative.

Born and raised in the Township of Unity, Ed attended the public school in the area along with helping his one brother, three sisters and mother farm. His father died when he was six months old. Reflecting on his childhood days, Ed recalls driving the 1921 car that the family had purchased. (Perhaps it should be noted that driver’s licenses were not required at the time.) He also recalls the days of staying home from school in order to pick stones and roots.

Following the death of his mother in 1934, Ed and his new bride, the former Gertrude Wolter, took over the farm. At the time, the farm consisted of 180 acres, but with advancement and improvements along with additions of land, the farm grew to 400 acres. Ed reflected back to the farm days of when cheese was less than eight-cents a pound, cows were sold for three-fourths cents per pound, and calves sold for 50-cents apiece. Most of the work on the farm was done by hand including the milking until a Delco light plant was installed on the farm in 1946, when electricity became available.

As for getting to town, Ed stated that a team of horses was used during the winter time with the average trip taking one hour and fifteen minutes.

As for his wife, Gertie, teaching was her greatest desire and a teaching certificate was received by attending classes in Neillsville and Stevens Point. She continues teaching until the couple moved to the City of Loyal, but did some tutoring.

Questioning Ed about the insurance business, he states that he became involved with American Family Insurance through the death of a friend. It was the request of the friend’s wife that he take over the business and after passing required state board test he began on a part-time basis.

Along with the insurance business, he was also busy on the farm, and served as Town of Unity assessor for 17 years, Town Clerk for five years, and was a member of the Pleasant Ridge School Board. Finding that the insurance company business was demanding, and that he enjoyed it a great deal, the family farm was sold to Ron Abel in 1957, and the Rohloffs moved to town. After building a home in 1958, on the east side of Loyal, the couple decided to move to their present residence in the spring of 1972, and is the office of the insurance company.

In January of 1973, the business employed Kim Lauenstein as a full-time associate.

A point that should not be overlooked in the life of the couple while still on the farm, is the story of having foster children. After leaving the teaching field, and spending her time at home, Gertie and Ed were approached by the County and State Welfare Departments, and were asked if they would consider taking in foster children. After thinking it over, and having no children of their own, the couple that they would, and turned their farm home into a home for three children. The children, Bobby, four; Tom, seven; and Terry, eight; became familiar with the farm, and according to Ed, “were great help, and never once caused us any grief.” The couple also took in a nine-month-old baby, Ryan, and a three-year old girl, Penny, when they moved to town. Since none of the children remain with them now, the fact that they were recently invited to attend one of the boy’s weddings, proves that the children remember the warmth and love, shown to them while at the Rohloff home.

Turning back to the insurance business, Ed explained that many changes have taken place and perhaps the biggest change is due to the fact of people being more insurance conscious, and aware of the value of their possessions. Medical expenses and repairs were also noted by Ed for the growth of insurance policies. Pointing out the rise in insurance, as in all things, he said that when he began in the business a policy for a single male driver under 25, was approximately $18 for six months, and today the price has increased approximately five times.

Besides his continuous work in the insurance business, Ed is a 15-year member of the Loyal Rotary Club, and enjoys bowling, both with the men and with his wife on the mixed couple’s night. The Rohloffs are also members of the Trinity Lutheran Church, and enjoy traveling a great deal.

For Ed Rohloff, the insurance business and Loyal proves for him the pleasures of meeting, and working with people. He states that he doubts if he could ever “fully retire” for that is when people start to slow down and for him he always has something to look forward to and it keeps him going. His work has brought much satisfaction to not only himself, but to the insurance company he serves, and to the people who have trust in the company and in him.
 

 

 


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