ARLINGTON -- Rodney E. Esch, 66 of Arlington, died Monday (July 31, 2006) at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha

He was born Dec. 18, 1939, in Danbury, to Carl H. and Pauline (Burton) Esch. He attended Red Willow School and graduated in 1957 from Indianola High School. He attended McCook Community College and graduated from Northwest Missouri State College in Maryville, Mo.

He was an industrial arts teacher and taught for many years in Leon, Iowa; Tarkio, Mo.; and Arlington. He then went into business raising veal. Later he started his own company, Rosebud Veal Farm in Arlington, which he operated for more than 20 years selling beef, veal, lamb and other specialty meats.

He married Rose Marie Klaas on Sept. 4, 1965, in McCook. They moved to Arlington in 1965.

 He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Fremont, the church choir, Midwest Veal Growers Association, and the National Rifle Association. He was a former member of the Arlington Volunteer Fire Department, former Little League coach and Fremont Family YMCA basketball coach.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include: his wife, Rose Marie; a daughter, Michelle Khaldon Alfakhri and husband, of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; two sons, Steven Esch of Arlington and Ryan and wife, Jacqueline Esch of Omaha; a brother, Don and wife, Ila Esch of Homer; two sisters, Joyce Esch of Des Moines, Wash. and Karen Mrs. Dick Cummins of Indianola; and five grandchildren.

Funeral services were Saturday at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fremont with the Rev. Mike Meyer officiating.

Burial will be in Arlington Cemetery.

Memorials will be made to the family choice.

Reckmeyer-Moser Funeral Home in Arlington was in charge of the arrangements.

 Announcement is courtsey of Carpenter Breland Funeral Home of McCook.