Marcell Rogalla
Marcell “Rogie” Rogalla, age 85, of Fargo, ND, passed away on Friday, July 10th, at his home, under care of Hospice and his family. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 17th, at Grace Lutheran Church in Erskine with Lee Hoaas officiating. Interment will be in Broderheim Cemetery, rural Erskine. Family will greet friends for one hour prior to the service on Friday at the church. Arrangements are with Carlin Family Funeral Service of Erskine and messages of condolence may be shared at www.carlinfuneral.com.
Marcell Steven Rogalla was born June 18, 1941 in Pulaski Township, ND, the son of Steve and Eleanor (Greskowiak) Rogalla. He attended rural country school, parochial school, and graduated from the “AC” agricultural college in Crookston, MN. He joined the Army National Guard in 1964 and was honorably discharged in 1970.
In 1964 at a chance meeting in the Anderson’s driveway, Marcell met the love of his life Geraldine Hoaas. They were married in 1965 in Warren, MN and were devoted to each other for over 60 years. They were blessed a year after marriage with daughter Emberly and three years later with son Corey.
Marcell began his career as a farmer and a custom combiner up and down the middle of the country. He then joined HC Smith Construction building missile sites in North Dakota and Missouri. In 1972 they moved to Thief River Falls where he sold AAA, winning recognition and numerous awards and finding his calling in sales. The family moved to Crookston in 1974 where he obtained his real estate license, worked for Century 21, and then formed Golf Terrace Mobile & Modular Homes and Real Estate with two partners. In 1980 Marcell then formed Rogalla Commercial & Agricultural Real Estate, a very successful company that represented numerous large properties in the region. Then, at the urging of long-time friend Dale Overson, Marcell joined Barrington Pools in Chicago as a partner and head of sales where he worked until he retired in 2005. After the tragic loss of their son Corey Rogalla, they moved back to Detroit Lakes to be close to the family he so dearly loved. Detroit Lakes was home until 2023 when they moved to Fargo.
Marcell was known for his love of God, as a hard worker, an avid reader of Christian books, a devoted listener of motivational speakers, an enthusiast of Cadillacs, Lincolns and Corvettes, and for his entrepreneurial spirit. Marcell passed away peacefully at home on Friday, July 10. He will be lovingly missed by his wife Geraldine, daughter Emberly (David) Bina, bonus daughters Wanda Lunak and Heather Lantz, sister Seline Narlock, grandchildren Breea Rogalla, Gabrielle, Corey, Xander, and Grayson Mowery, Jesse, Tony, and Mathew Lunak, Braxton and Bentley Lantz, sisters/brothers-in-law Barb Gaalswyk, Patsy and Larry Sandberg, Lee and Sherry Hoaas, Char and Kurt Krueger, and Bryan and Sue Anderson, and so many more cherished family members and friends.
He was welcomed home by his parents, son Corey Rogalla, parents-in-law Cliff and Roberta Anderson, brother Vernon Rogalla, brothers-in-law Andrew Narlock, Steve Hoaas, and Steve Gaalswyk, nephew Dale Narlock, and daughter-in-law Tracee Rogalla-Guard.
Blessed be the memory of Marcell Rogalla