Rolland George Kerr

Rolland George Kerr Sr. was born on September 17th, 1918 to John R. Kerr and Edna (Havens) Kerr in Fairfax, SD. He was raised on a farm, attended high school in Fairfax, and graduated from South Dakota’s Southern State Teacher’s College. He went on to teach for two years in a country school on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota before joining the Army Air Corps to serve his country in World War II. During those four years, his service took him to England, France, and Germany before returning to Marshalltown, IA after the end of the war. In 1948, he married Betty L. Schmidt, they honeymooned and put down roots in Oregon, never to return to live in South Dakota. He took a teaching position in Willamina, OR, where he taught for eight years before moving to Newberg, OR in 1956. In Newberg, he taught science and became head of the science department at Renne Junior High School until his retirement in 1981. Rolland and Betty lived and raised their three boys, Ross, Greg, and Rolland Jr., on Springbrook Road for many years. He was a member of the Newberg Christian Church and member of the Masonic Lodge in Sheridan, Oregon. He deeply enjoyed his many outdoor hobbies, including woodworking, birdwatching, and working with flowers and livestock. Most of all, he enjoyed spending time with his granddaughters, whom he loved very much. Survivors include son, Ross Kerr, of Newberg; son, Rolland Kerr Jr., and wife, Julie, of Newberg; brother Craig, of Iowa; granddaughter, Kayla Kerr, of Newberg; and granddaughter, Danielle Kerr and husband, Joachim Rau, of Bad Schussenried, Germany. Rolland was preceded in death by his wife, Betty, and son, Greg; and his siblings, brothers Robert, Ross, John, and Keith, and sister, Alice. Rolland George Kerr Sr. will be laid to rest at the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, Oregon. A funeral service will be held at 11am on Thursday, July 27th at the Newberg Christian Church. The family asks that donations be made to Providence Hospice services and the Portland/National Audubon Society.