Roger Garnjobst

Roger Marcks Garnjobst passed away on May 18, 2021. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Garnjobst and Marie Garnjobst, and sister, Marclene Eckhart, all from Spencer, Iowa. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Coralie Sue (Von Housen) Garnjobst, son, Steven Garnjobst and his wife, Laura (Steine) Garnjobst; granddaughters, Nicole and Marisa Garnjobst, of  Minneapolis, Minnesota. Daughter, Sheryl Beckham, and husband, David Beckham, granddaughters, Natalie Beckham of Gulf Breeze and Abigail (Beckham) Countryman and husband Mark Countryman of Augusta, Georgia.

He was born September 5, 1930, in Crofton, Nebraska.  He moved to Spencer, Iowa in 1935. He attended the Spencer School System graduating from Spence High School in 1948. Roger was active in the Future Farmers of America and the School and City Band. He attended college at Nebraska State Teachers College at Wayne, Nebraska then transferring to Iowa State College at Ames, Iowa graduating in 1956 in Farm Operations curriculum. He assisted the family in the development of the property in the south part of Spencer. In 1953, Roger entered the U.S. Army, where he instructed in wheeled vehicle maintenance and development of curriculum and training schedule of various Corp of Engineering Schools. Returning to college, he completed studies to obtain an advanced degree in Vocational Education. He accepted a teaching assignment in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa School System as a Vocational Agriculture Instructor. He was a member of the Mt. Pleasant Presbyterian Church and served on the building committee when constructing a new church. He was also a long-time member of the Henry County Fair Board of Directors, a past master of the Masonic Order, and a past worthy patron of the Order of the Eastern Star.

An avid scuba diver, he was active in teaching diving classes and aided in the development of the county rescue unit. Roger was also active in teaching hunter safety and fireman safety to both school and adult groups. He also assisted in the development of a gunsmithing curriculum at the South East Lowa Community College in Burlington, Lowa.

On leaving teaching, he purchased a sporting goods business in Fairfield, Iowa. He operated this business until moving to Florida in 1993 and worked as a Condominium Manager on Pensacola Beach, Florida. He actively managed Boardwalk Condominiums, Tristan Towers, Port Side Villas, Starboard Village, and Gulf Winds during his time on Pensacola Beach. He retired to Gulf Breeze in 2010, where he remained to the final days.

The funeral cortege will line up at 1:45 pm, Monday, June 28, 2021, at Olive Baptist Church – Warrington Campus, 103 W. Winthrop Avenue, Pensacola, FL 32507, and will depart at 2:00 pm sharp.  The graveside service will commence at 2:30  pm at Barrancas National Cemetery (Shelter- B).

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the Gulf Breeze Historical Society.  https://www.gbahs.org/.