Gerald Rudolf Roland, a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed away on Thursday, November 28, 2024, at the age of 74. He was born on September 13, 1950, in New London to the late Rudolf and Arlene (Schulke) Roland. Gerald lived an abundant life full of love, laughter, and unwavering commitment.

Gerald married the love of his life, Linda Lehman, on June 20, 1970. Together, they built a beautiful life, and a home filled with music, warmth, and joy.

Gerald is survived by his loving wife, Linda; his children, Jason (Heather) Roland and Joshua (Bhoke) Roland; his grandchildren, Grant (Jayden), Grace, Brady, and Jack; his siblings, James Roland, Mary (Steve Morlock) Kamp and Randy (Tammy) Roland; and numerous nieces and nephews.

At Gerald's request there will not be a funeral. During this holiday season, please celebrate his memory, as his family will, by listening to "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas". The following words have been written with much love and gratitude by his grandchildren- Grant, Grace, Brady and Jack.

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"A man is only as good as his word. Be true to others and to yourself." – Gerald Roland

My grandpa was so many things, and he excelled at all of them. Husband, father, grandfather, friend, artist, carpenter, mechanic, and DJ are just a few of the roles I deeply admire about him. For as long as I can remember, I loved doing anything and everything with him. He always took the time to teach me, even though he had so much to do and never enough time to do it.

Some of my favorite memories are of working on projects in the woodshop, picking fresh green beans and cucumbers from the garden, fishing in the pond, learning to drive the tractor, and going to the county fair to watch the demolition derby—betting a nickel on who would win each heat.

Grandpa was incredibly devoted to his job at Curwood, where he worked for 42 years, and he was very proud of his involvement in the union. Even while working grueling 21-7 shifts, he always found time for us. He never missed a sporting event or a birthday. After 12-hour shifts, he'd still come home with a twinkle in his eye, ready to spend time with us before heading back to work "to do it all over again".

Grandpa was always finding new ways to make us laugh. From his classic "pull my finger" jokes to reaching over to put his hand on your forehead when he saw a "Stop Ahead" sign in the car, he always kept us on our toes. His love for music was a big part of his life, and he could often be found busting a move.

As I reflect on the time I spent with him, I'm overwhelmed by his unwavering love and support. His presence brought warmth and comfort to every family gathering. I can still hear the excitement in his voice whenever we walked through the door: "Hey buddy!" He had a remarkable way of making everyone feel valued and loved.

His legacy of kindness and strength will forever be a guiding light in my life. He was so much more than just my Grandpa; he was my friend. He will live on in the lessons he taught us and the love we shared.

From my heart,

Grant (Grandson)

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Grandpa. A universal word with such an individual meaning. While there aren't enough words in the world to truly capture who my Grandpa was and what he meant to my family, I want to honor him by sharing some of the moments and memories that stand out.

My Grandpa loved deeply and with all his heart. I'd even go as far as to say he had a heart of gold—but, in true Johnny Cash fashion, he'd probably insist it was black. Grandpa admired the "man in black" so much that he made it his signature look. While Johnny's songs often spoke of sorrow and shadows, Grandpa's life was the opposite. His spirit played a melody of joy and light. He might have worn black, but his soul shined bright, filling every room with warmth, love, and laughter.

Grandpa was a jack-of-all-trades, and he never missed a chance to share his talents with those he loved. He built toy boxes for my siblings and me, my very first jewelry box, their home where so many cherished memories were made, and countless other treasures crafted with care. When he wasn't working on a project, he was sharing his other passions with us. Whether he was fishing in the pond, camping, gardening, cracking the corniest jokes, or dancing like nobody was watching, Grandpa's greatest joy was sharing it all with his family.

He was a special man who always made you feel even more special. Growing up, no matter the activity or event, you could always look out and find Grandpa and Grandma in the audience, sitting in their seats as the first ones there—every single time. As the only girl born in Grandpa's direct lineage, he made sure I was always included in activities with "his princes," but he went above and beyond to remind me that I was "his only princess." One of my favorite memories is learning to slow dance while standing on his feet, Elvis's voice echoing through the house and making the moment unforgettable.

My Grandpa was love. He was laughter. And, by golly, he was proud. To have someone so special be such an influence on my life and aspirations is one of my greatest gifts.

Until we dance again… see you later, alligator.

Love,

Gracie (Granddaughter)

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Grandpa always knew how to put a smile on people's faces. Through emails, phone calls, voicemails, and visits, grandpa's subtle but quick-witted personality left a positive impact on me despite living far away from him. You'd behaving a conversation with him, and then he would spontaneously say something clever, and you couldn't help but smile. I recently had the chance to visit New London – for some reason, everyone was talking about throwing sloppy joes at random people's cars, and we jokingly asked Grandpa if he ever did that, and immediately he said, "Not lately," and we all started laughing.

Every visit to Wisconsin, I cherished talking with him and spending time with him because that wasn't something I could just drive 5 or 10 minutes and do whenever I wanted. I have no doubt we will all remember his witty ability to make people happy, and his deep care he evidently showed to those he loved.

Love,

Brady (Grandson)

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My grandpa instilled in me a love of music from the time I was a child. Listening to his CDs and vinyl records play through the speakers hardwired into every room of the house felt like magic. Whether it was the somber tones of Bobby Vinton on quiet mornings, Michael Jackson for afternoon dance parties, or silly Christmas songs like "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas," he always had the perfect music for the occasion. His diverse catalog played a big role in shaping my taste in music, and it made me feel like the coolest kid in school.

As I grew older, I started to learn how to play some of this music myself. My first attempt at guitar was with Grandpa's guitar, trying to decipher the book he gave me to practice. I didn't do very well. However, years later, after much practice, I became proficient. One day, when Grandpa was visiting, I picked up my guitar and began to play and sing "Harvest Moon" by Neil Young. Unbeknownst to me at the time, Neil Young was one of Grandpa's favorite artists. He started to sing along with me. It was a magical moment—I felt like I had finally succeeded in giving back to him, providing him with music after all the years he had done so for me.

Not too long ago, I had the pleasure of going through Grandpa's complete vinyl collection with him, listening as he played his favorites for me. Even after 20 years of introducing me to new music, he still had more to share. I was awestruck. Sadly, I wasn't granted enough time to learn those songs to play for him, but that won't stop me from learning them now. I know he'll be by my side, guiding me as always.

I can't wait to see you dance again, Grandpa. I love you. Thank you for everything,

Jack (Grandson)