DAVID ROTT

David “Duke” Henry Rott, 77, of Elgin, passed away from pancreatic cancer at his home early Tuesday morning, October 12, 2021. He was born January 7, 1944, in Plainview to Henry and Marie (Meyer) Rott. He graduated from Waseca’s Southern School of Agriculture in 1961. He married Joy Eggler at Zion Lutheran Church in Stewartville on November 4, 1967.
Duke and Joy made their home on the family farm near Potsdam where they raised their four children. Duke cherished his family and loved them dearly. He was very proud of his herd of registered Holsteins developed over the years. He savored the quietness and beauty of nature while spending many hours in the tractor (without the radio) doing fieldwork. In 2012, Duke and Joy moved to Elgin’s Woodland Estates while Duke continued to enjoy farming with his son, Bruce.
Duke was well known for his cowboy hat and Copenhagen. He loved to tell stories and always had a good joke to share from his wallet. He enjoyed spending time fixing things in his shop, attending his children and grandchildren’s sporting events and 4-H activities, and always made time for the monthly neighborhood “stress clinic” beer party. Duke’s church and faith were very important to him. He was a member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Elgin and served as a deacon. He loved to sing and was in the church choir, sang with the Plainview Community Choir, and cherished time spent singing with his late daughter, Nikki, while Joy played piano. Duke threw horseshoes in the Plainview/Elgin horseshoe league, bowled in the Monday night bowling league, and was a member of the Olmsted County 4-H Leaders Alumni Association. He was always ready for a good game of cards, loved spending time with his German Shepherd, and enjoyed going to the movie theater on Sundays with Joy.
Duke is survived by his loving ‘Bride’ of 53 years, Joy Rott of Elgin; his children, Kim (Kris) DeFrang and their children, Chase and Reed of Plainview, Kindra (Chad) Carlson and their children, Cael, Caden, and Conlan of Pennock, MN, and Bruce (Melissa) Rott and their children, Isaac, Lauren, and Anna of Elgin; stepmother-in-law, Elaine Eggler of Stewartville; sisters, Paula (Bill) Steinbronn of Owatonna, Betty Fahrenz of Plainview, June (Carl) Schreiber of Plainview; brother-in-law, Kenny Schumacher of Elgin; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Nikki; parents, Henry and Marie Rott; father and mother-in-law, Casper and Violet Eggler; sister, Mary Schumacher; brother-in-law, Ron Fahrenz; and great-nephew, Ross Grobe.
Friends and family may visit on Friday, October 15 from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Elgin, and one hour prior to the service on Saturday. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 16, at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Elgin with Pastor Terrill Bramstedt officiating. Burial will follow the service in the Elgin Cemetery.
Arrangements entrusted to Schleicher Funeral Homes, Plainview Chapel, the guest register may be signed at www.schleicherfuneralhomes.com