Roderick G. Rohrberg

Roderick G. Rohrberg, 87, Pioneer of Orbital Tube Welding and Founder of Creative Pathways. Inc. 9/26/25 – 5/9/13
Born 9/26/25 on a farm near Mineola, Iowa. Rod was the seventh and youngest child of Charles and Emma (Minnsen) Rohrberg. He was the last of his generation that included 3 Brothers and 3 Sisters. Rod felt his Farming experience and Iowa upbringing prepared him well for his Career Path. Rod died May 9th in Torrance from complication of Pneumonia and Parkinson's Disease. In his last hours, he was alert and aware of the presence and love of his entire family. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Gene Mary, children Karla (George), Rick (Deceased) (Christine), Cheries, Tim (Patti), Chris and 10 Grandchildren and 7 Great Grandchildren. In 1944, at age 18, he started his Military Career at St Ambrose College and Marquette University. After the War ended, he was a Junior Officer assigned to a Patrol Boat where he witnessed the Fifth ever Atomic Explosion (ref. Daily Breezy Article 7-24-06) in the Bikini Atoll. He said it was the most awesome experience of his life. After being released from the Navy, he went back to Iowa State University where he earned a BS in Civil Engineering. While at Iowa State, he held a job waiting tables in the Girl's Sorority where he met Gene Mary Sogard. They were married soon after. After a short stint in Alaska, they moved to California in 1951 where he started his career at North American Aviation. He spent time in Fuselage Design, Producability and had his own Research and Development Center. It was there where Scott Crossfield (Chief Pilot for the X-15 Rocket Research Plane) said he was concerned about the leakage of Fuel & Hydraulic Fluids around the Powerful Rocket Engine and does anybody have any ideas on how to eliminate the problem. Rod stood up and said, "Why don't we Automatically Weld It". This began a 55 year career dedicated to the Design, Development and Fabrication of Tubular Welding Systems. In 1969 he left North American Aviation because he didn't like Manager's telling him "Something Couldn't Be Done", so he started Creative Pathways, Inc. where he continued his love of design and problem solving. In a 1967 Daily Breeze Article titled "Idea Man", he said "If I can't get an emotion thrill out of an idea, there is something wrong, something is not there". "Inventions are difficult to define", he'd say. "To bring ideas forth, you've got to take time out and dream and allow yourself to consider nutty things". While most of Rod's 34 Patents are related to Automatic Welding, he had Patents in may different fields. Creative minds can not be confined to a limited area. He never met a challenge that he didn't accept. Services will be held on Wednesday, May 15th at 10 a.m. at Lutheran Church of the Good Shepard, Torrance, CA. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.


Funeral Home:
Green Hills Mortuary and Memorial Chapel
27501 S.Western Ave.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
US 90275