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Edwin Alfred “Skip” Rohner
Edwin Alfred “Skip” Rohner
July 24,1929 - March 2, 2024
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Edwin “Skip” Rohner passed away on March 2, 2024, at the age of 94.
He was predeceased by his first wife Harriet Cook Rohner. His second wife, Carolyn Henderson Rohner, passed away on April 25.
He is survived by his son and his daughters Gregory Rohner (Michele), Jeanette Rohner (Steve Thiele) and Genevieve Lescohier (Bill).
Skip had five grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. His sister Betty Minkler lives in Chico, California.
Skip was born on July 29,1929, to the late Hans and Claire Rohner in Saint Helena, California. They lived in Berkeley before coming to Lake County.
When Skip was around 4 years old his family moved to Lake County. They lived on Dodds Island and Skip went to school by boat, which is how he acquired the nickname, “The Skipper,” then shortened to Skip. Burns Valley School was one room with all eight grades and one teacher.
Later, his father was hired by Mrs. Gopcevic to manage the Quercus Ranch on Soda Bay Road. Skip spent many happy hours roaming all over the big ranch and along the lakeshore.
Skip graduated from Kelseyville High School and went on to Santa Rosa Junior College and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He joined the Navy and served as an air ordinance man on the carriers “Valley Forge” and “Philippine Sea” during the Korean War.
During one of his leaves he met Harriet Cook, a young art teacher at Clear Lake High School, who would become his wife when he returned from the war.
After leaving the service in 1955 Skip started in the pear business along with his father Hans Rohner. His father purchased property in Upper Lake which had its own packing shed. Their label was “Colorful.” They also owned properties in Kelseyville.
Skip farmed for 48 years. He served on the board of Mt. Konocti Growers for 21 years, including four as president. One year he achieved, “Grower of the Year,” from the Lake County Fruit Exchange. He also served on state level canning and marketing committees. He and Carolyn were the Grand Marshals of the Kelseyville Pear Festival in 1999.
Skip was also active in the community. He served as Little League representative for 10 years and actively supported the school teams. He was a Kelseyville Lions club member for 30 years and took his turn as president. He was an avid trap shooter at the Lake County Rod and Gun Club. He delighted in going to shooting events and brought home many trophies. Skip was a sportsman. He and his father were part owners of the Sanborn Slough duck club near Colusa.
He enjoyed hunting ducks, pheasant and deer, fishing, and getting abalone with family and friends for many, many years. He highly valued his hunting dogs and was quite devoted to them.
Skip was also a lifelong sports fan, following the San Francisco Giants, the SF 49ers and the Golden State Warriors.
After many years of friendship and enjoyment of mutual interests, and after both endured the loss of their spouses, Skip married Carolyn Henderson on Dec. 26, 1984. They lived in the Henderson home on Gaddy Lane. Many happy memories with family and friends were experienced there. Summer gatherings at the pool, birthday celebrations, Easter, July 4 and Christmas events.
Skip and Carolyn enjoyed traveling together. Their trips included fishing in Alaska and on the Rogue River. They also cherished meeting up with Skip’s Navy buddies and their wives when they had reunions at various places across the country.
He enjoyed a good story and loved to tell a story, laugh and have a beer. He always felt blessed to have been able to earn his living, enjoy his activities and spend most of his life in beautiful Lake County.
A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, May 31, at the Kelseyville Cemetery. Following the service, family and friends are invited to gather for refreshments and reminiscing at The Ripe Choice Farm located at 2550 Soda Bay Road.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Martha Stokes Panella Scholarship fund, which benefits students of Kelseyville High School, or donate to a charity of your choice. To donate to the fund, send a check made out to “The Martha Stokes Panella Memorial Fund” and mail it to Strong Financial, P.O. Box 670, Lakeport, CA 95453.
