Person Page - 137

     Rodrick was born on 2 February 1936 at Maquoketa, Jackson County, Iowa. He married Charlotte Ann Mertka on 10 August 1955 at Little Brown Church in the Vale, Nashua, Chickasaw, Iowa. (The marriage license was probably filed in Linn County.) Rodrick Gail Dunlap died on 22 May 2010 at South Amana, Iowa County, Iowa, at age 74.
     He resided 2044 Highway 6 NW (52322). He lived at Clay Township, Jones County, Iowa, on 1 April 1940 with Gail Elsworth Dunlap and Bertha Nelmah Dunlap.¹ Rodrick Gail Dunlap began military service on 4 November 1953 enlisting in the U. S. Army. Rodrick Gail Dunlap served as a paratrooper in the United States Army from 1953-56.²
He had also worked as a railroad brakeman, a tree trimmer and logger.² He had been the superintendent of Public Works and the Deputy Director of the Linn County Conservation Board.² He ended military service on 3 November 1961. In 1970, Rodrick Gail Dunlap and Charlotte Ann Dunlap moved to Oxford, Iowa. Rodrick Gail Dunlap was employed by Johnson County, Iowa government from 1970 to 2001 as the county's first Conservation Director where he devoted 31 years in the development and application of the true meaning of nature and sought to instill the same love of nature in the lives of his famiily and everyone who knew him.² He was employed as the Park Manager of F. W. Kent Park (county park.)
Rodrick Gail Dunlap spent his retirement years enjoying his family, and spending time in the workshop where he created and built beautiful pieces. Fishing, hunting, traveling, chopping his own firewood, and more fishing were joys of his retirement.²
Rodrick Gail was survived by his wife, Charlotte; three daughters, Brenda (Jeff) Verry of Clear Lake, IA, Sue (Rich) Rugger of Oxford and Kathy Dunlap and fiancé, Murray Cave of Tiffin; one son, Gail (Cyndi) Dunlap of Swisher; eight grandchildren, John Verry, Chelsie (Tom) Frelund, Kelly Rugger, Brooke Rugger, Michael Rugger, Tyler Dunlap, Mitchel Dunlap and Chad Eckrich; two great grandchildren Logan and Cullen Frelund; one brother, Bud (Elsie) Dunlap of Florida; three sisters, Ardella (Alvin) Stemm of Lone Tree, Lynette (Larry) Starr and Mary Jane (Bruce) Evans, both of Ohio.² Rodrick Gail Dunlap was a self-educated man who learned how nature works and taught others how to work with nature. Rodrick placed his heart and soul in his work with his vision, ambition, determination and dedication.²

     Charlotte was born on 29 November 1936 at Quarry, Le Grand Township, Marshall County, Iowa.¹ She married Rodrick Gail Dunlap on 10 August 1955 at Little Brown Church in the Vale, Nashua, Chickasaw, Iowa. (The marriage license was probably filed in Linn County.) Charlotte Ann Mertka died on 3 February 2021 at Iowa at age 84.
     She lived at 827 Eighth Street Southeast, Cedar Rapids, Linn County, Iowa, on 1 April 1940 with Louis Byron Mertka and Maxine Rose Mertka.¹ As of 10 August 1955, her married name was Dunlap. In 1970, Charlotte Ann Dunlap and Rodrick Gail Dunlap moved to Oxford, Iowa.
     (See also findagrave.com: memorial 222223302.)