HARTINGTON — Marlan John Rolfes, 77, Hartington, died Oct. 22, 2025, at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, S.D. Memorial services were Oct. 27 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Newcastle, with the Rev. Will Targy officiating. Burial of his cremated remains was at Calvary Cemetery, Newcastle. Honorary pallbearers were Marlan’s grandchildren. Visitation was Monday at church. Arrangements were under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home, Hartington. Marlan John was born March 15, 1948, in Yankton, S.D., to Alfred Nicholas and Clara Mary (Jansen) Rolfes. He grew up on a farm near Wynot, and graduated from Hartington Cedar Catholic High School in 1968. He then received his master’s degree in agricultural engineering in 1973. Marlan married Sharon Catherine Lowe July 14, 1973, in Newcastle. Marlan worked for John Deere in Ottumwa, Iowa, for three years, and then he and Sharon lived in East Moline, Ill., (Quad Cities) for two years prior to moving back home to farm the homestead with his family. They built a home north of Newcastle in 1990. He continued to farm raising grain, livestock, hogs and chickens until his health prevented him from doing so. Marlan and Sharon moved into Hartington in July 2024.

Marlan was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, its church board, and the Newcastle school board. He was always trying to improve how things worked.

He liked to go golfing, fishing, flying and watching Gunsmoke. He was in a flying co-op in Ottumwa and East Moline and flew home quite often to help farm.

Marlan is survived by his wife, Sharon, Hartington; three children and spouses, Kerri (Bruce) Meyer, Syracuse; Chad (Lora) Rolfes, Vermillion, S.D.; Craig (Jenny) Rolfes, Hartington; 10 grandchildren, Lauren and Jayden Meyer; Reese, Blake and Joslyn Rolfes; Claire, Isabel, Dayne, Aubri and Ezekiel Rolfes; 12 siblings, Janice (Walter) Haberman, Norfolk; Judy (Dale) Blauwet, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Nick (Peggy) Rolfes, St. Paul, Minn.; Allen Rolfes, Wynot; Joyce (Nancy) Rolfes, Phoenix, Ariz.; Mary (John) Bystrom, Omaha; Carol (Joe) Finocchiaro, Omaha; Neal (Susan) Rolfes, Wichita, Kan.; Mark (Julie) Rolfes, Ponca; DelRae (Mary) Rolfes, Lincoln; Mike (Susan) Rolfes, Omaha; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Alfred; a brother, Roger; in-laws, John (Roseanna) Lowe; and sisters-in-law, Mary Ann Lowe and Irene Lowe.