Walter Rohrbach, age 95, passed away on Friday, January 9, 2026. Walter was born on December 7, 1930, in Bern, Switzerland to Johann Robert Rohrbach and Marie Rohrbach-Bahler. Walter is survived by his wife Dori, sons Andy Rohrbach (Karen) and Dan Rohrbach (Karen) and daughter Heidi Weller (Earl). Walter's two sisters, Margrith and Vreni are still living in Switzerland. He is also survived by six grandsons, three great-grandsons and one great-granddaughter.

Walter's family lived in different rented farmhouses with no running water and firewood was used for heat. Following the start of World War II the family experienced five years of difficulty due to the rationing of most goods and food. Windows had to be covered at night to remain invisible to war aircraft flying overhead.

In 1947 at the age of 17, Water started simultaneous machinist training and working on metalworking machines making precision parts and assemblies for anti-aircraft guns and telephone systems. After four years, he passed the test to be a Machinist. Walter also attended Mechanical Technical School and graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. During his mandatory Swiss Army service, he was trained to use the Morse Code on the telegraph. During this time, he met his lifelong best friend, Walter Gysling, and they enjoyed hiking in the mountains and skiing in the winter with many friends.

The two Walters had the opportunity to go the USA on a work program sponsored by The Marshall Plan, an initiative to aid Europe and help rebuild European economies after the War. They left Switzerland in 1953 and arrived at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. They studied English, History and Economics during the day, and worked in the model shop at Honeywell Corporation in Minneapolis at night.

In 1954 they purchased a new 1954 Chevrolet and they returned to Switzerland with the new car coming along. After stops in Portugal, Morocco, Spain and Algeria in North Africa, they left the ship in Italy and drove the new car back to Switzerland, using the car to impress two girls they knew. By Christmas 1954, Walter Rohrbach was engaged to Dori Kubler and Walter Gysling to Dori's cousin Helen Favez.

In 1955 the two Walters left for New York City and in mid-May of 1956, Dori and Helen sailed for New York City. The Rohrbachs and Gyslings had a double wedding on May 26, 1956 in Manhattan. After a honeymoon trip to Niagara Falls, they drove to Minnesota where Walter worked for various engineering firms, including Cedar Engineering, that was acquired by a new startup company called Control Data in 1957. Walter was a talented and innovative Mechanical Engineer, with his design work including working on aircraft instrumentation, miniature motors, aircraft flight stabilizers, electric paper tape and high-speed card readers for early computer systems. Over the years he held several patents. For Control Data, he developed advanced packaging techniques for core, thin film, and memory wire related to technologies for early data storage systems.

In the 1970s Walter designed and developed a full line of automated machinery for a company that built equipment for producing laminated kitchen countertops. Over the years, he installed production lines of these machines in many countries in Europe, Canada and China as well as throughout the United States.

In 1982 Walter sold his part ownership in that company and started Modular Concepts Inc. in his home in Burnsville doing new product development design work. He soon rented space in a building in Bloomington and purchased metalworking machines to design and build custom automation machinery for many different industries. Achieving his goal of establishing a family business, he, along with Dori, worked with their two sons and son-in-law at Modular Concepts, working together in the business for 35 years until his retirement.

Outside of work Walter enjoyed woodworking, furniture building and he excelled, with Dori, at keeping their large yard and a variety of flowers, trees and plants looking great. But, his greatest enjoyment was downhill skiing, a sport he started on wooden skis made by his uncle in Switzerland who was a cooper (barrel maker), and which he continued to enjoy well into his mid-80s – including annual trips out west
to Colorado and Utah.

Early in their time in Minnesota, Walter and Dori were introduced to Jesus Christ by Walter & Helen Gysling. This started a lifelong relationship with Jesus which guided all that he did and how he lived his personal and work lives. After moving to Burnsville in 1966, the first church Walter and Dori visited was Berean Baptist Church, and following a home visit by Pastor Rehman during that next week, they attended Berean until they were no longer able to, due to age. Walter was very involved at Berean and taught Sunday School classes, served as an elder and on several pastoral search teams. He and Dori were also involved with and supported many missionaries and mission organizations throughout their
lives.

Walter enjoyed reading and studying his Bible regularly (even getting an Apple iPad with a Bible app in later years) and he met weekly with a small group of men for Bible study and theological spiritual discussions for over 40 years.

Services will be held on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at Berean Baptist Church in Burnsville. Visitation at 10am, service at 11am followed by a light lunch.              In lieu of flowers, memorials to Berean Baptist Church, Burnsville MN or The Salvation Army are preferred.

condolences at Whitefuneralhomes.com