Clarene Rohner Obituary (1924 - 2022)

Clarene Powell Rohner, 97, quietly passed away at home on March 18, 2022. Her graveside service will be held at Mount Hope Cemetery on Saturday, March 26, at 11:00 a.m., with Reverend Suresh Telagani of the St. Francis de Sales Cathedral officiating. Afterward, a reception will be held for family and friends at the Baker Elks Club, 1896 Second Street, Baker City, OR 97814. Clarene was the cornerstone of a prosperous Baker County farm since 1942. Mrs. Rohner was born in Durkee on June 3, 1924, to Authur Powell and Anna Silvers. She lived in Durkee on the family cattle ranch until 1932, when the family moved to Bowen Valley. Clarene graduated from Baker High School in 1942. Clarene grew up in an era without cell phones, social media, jet planes, indoor plumbing, or refrigeration. She sewed her own clothes, processed meat and dairy products by hand, and canned vegetables and fruit from crops her family raised. Cooking was done on wood stoves and the main source of transportation was the horse. She road to school on a horse, traveled to work on a horse, and farmed with a team of horses. Some would say that she lived a tough and primitive lifestyle. She lost her mother when she was 11 to pneumonia and helped raise her brother Bryce who was IO, and sister Jeanine 5. In 1938 her horse rolled on her and shattered her ankle to the degree that she had bones protruding through her boot and spent 6- weeks in the hospital. Over the years, she had both her hips and both knees replaced. With all this, you would never notice her limp, never hear her complain, and she never failed to accomplish the necessary tasks that farm life demands. One day in 1939, her father hired a young man to help work the ranch. "He came through on horseback and asked about a job," she said. "He had the biggest, blackest beard. I asked Dad where he found that bum." That man's name was Orville Rohner. Clarene and Orville married on June 6, 1942. They moved into a house adjacent to Orville's father's dairy farm off Pocahontas road and began a partnership with him in the dairy business. That business grew and expanded over the next 66 years and became a "Dairy of Honor." Clarene's achievements in life and community involvement are long and impressive. 1994 Legacy Woman of the Year, 1999 Diamond Pioneer Agriculture Career Achievement Award from OSU, President of Soroptimist International, Board member and treasurer of the Soil and Water Conservation District, Dairy Heard Improvement treasurer, and member of three different Granges. She was a 4-H leader when she was 17 and taught 4-H sewing and home economics for over 60 years. She judged at the county and state level and was a member of the state and local 4-H Leaders Association and the Home Extension Club. The number of people whose lives Clarene touched in creative and positive ways spans generations. Clarene especially enjoyed sewing. She was a very accomplished seamstress, making everything from tailored suits to machine embroidery crafts. She often wore clothes she created. She spent many years traveling to LaGrande to take machine embroidery classes with her good friend Marie Savage. Her keen eye for fabrics, color, and attention to detail were evident in the beautiful quilts she made for her children and grandchildren. As accomplished as she was, she considered her family the most precious to her. She raised four children; Anna, Norma, Jean, and John. Over the years, the family increased to include 12 Grand Children, 22 Great Grand-children, and 5 Great-Great-Grand Children. Their love and devotion to her tells a story greater than volumes of words could achieve. Grandma never forgot a birthday or Christmas present, and she never failed to smile or hug, but most importantly, she always managed to give guidance when necessary and love in abundance. Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, John and Kate Rohner; daughters and sons-in-law, Norma and Leonard Nemec and Jean and Dave Justus, all of Baker City and Anna and Jerry Hortsch of Sun City West, Arizona. Grand Children, Josh Rohner and Cindy, Kyra Rohner, John Taylor Rohner, and Alysia, Joel Rohner and Whitney, Mike and Nita Troupe, Don and Cathi Big Spring, Brian Troupe, Kathy, and Mike Colton, Barry and Ann Nemec, Jesse and Jaime Justus and Daniel and Erin Justus, 27 Great and Great-Great Grand Children, sister Jeanine Culver and many nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her Father and Mother, Husband Orville, Brother Bryce, and Grandson Christopher. Those wishing to make memorial contributions in memory of Clarene may direct them to the Baker County 4-H Association, this may be done through the Coles Tribute Center 1950 Place St. Baker City, OR 97814