Rostenbach, Delmar W. – 1920-2010

DAGGETT, FEUERBACH, JENKINS, MCCULLOUGH, OTTO, ROSTENBACH, TOMPKINS, TONDERUM

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 7/19/2010 at 16:29:42

Delmar W. Rostenbach, 89, formerly of Monroe, died Monday, July 5, 2010, at Arbor Springs of natural causes in West Des Moines.
A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 10, at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Newton with burial following at Silent City Cemetery in Monroe. Visitation will be from 2 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 9, at Coburn Funeral Home of Monroe with family present to greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m.
Delmar Wayne Rostenbach was born Sept. 22, 1920, on his family farm in Hickory Grove Township in rural Scott County. Delmar is the oldest of four children born to parents William G. and Mary Ann (Feuerbach) Rostenbach. Delmar’s great-grandfather was Julius Rostenbach, a founding pioneer settler of Scott County who emigrated from Brunswick, Germany, in the late 1840s. Delmar lived near Walcott Iowa and attended Fairview #2 country school and later commuted to Davenport to complete high school. After graduating from Davenport Central High School in 1939, Delmar traveled to Burbank, Calif., to work at Lockheed Aircraft. In December 1942, Delmar returned to Iowa to enlist in the Army Air Corp and became a dental technician. He trained at Fitzsimmons General Hospital in Denver, Colo. After completing training, he was stationed at Laughlin Air Force base near Del Rio, Texas, where he served until 1946. After the service, he enrolled at Iowa State University and became the first member of his family to attend college. While in Ames, he met the love of his life, Jean Tonderum.
Delmar and Jean married Nov. 23, 1947, and spent 59 years together. Delmar left college after two years to return home to help his father on the farm. He farmed for about 15 years on his own in Scott and Cedar County until 1963 when he returned to Iowa State University to complete his degree. By then he was the father of four and 42 years old. Delmar and family lived in a two bedroom temporary married student housing known as Pammel Court. He worked and went to school completing his degree in Farm Operations in 1967. He worked for Pfister Associated Growers (PAG) later bought by Cargill Inc. based in Monroe, Iowa, as field production manager until retirement in 1987.
Del and Jean were active in many organizations including ISU Alumni Association, Jasper County Cyclone Club, American Legion, Monroe Kiwanis, Central Iowa Polka Club and Sons of Norway (Jean’s heritage). Delmar was an avid ISU football fan and had been a season ticket holder since the 1970s. Delmar instilled the need for a good education in his children and saw each of them attend post-secondary schools. The ISU alumni are growing in the family as well, with his daughter and son-in-law, Pat and Ray, and his grandchildren, Aaron, Justinn, Joseph and Joshua, all with degrees from ISU.
Those left to honor his memory are his children, Carol Daggett of Des Moines, Pat (Ray) Jenkins of Melcher, Janice (Harry) McCullough of West Des Moines and Craig (Rita) Rostenbach of Bondurant; five grandchildren, Ryan McCullough, Aaron (Charlotte) McCullough, Justinn Jenkins, Joseph (Lyn) Jenkins and Joshua Jenkins; five great-grandchildren, Madison, Catherine, Ella, Joseph and Lucille; three siblings, Lois Otto of Burlington, Wesley (Beverly) Rostenbach of Davenport and Elna (Hank) Tompkins of Washington. Delmar was preceded in death by his parents; wife; brother-in-law, Eddie Otto; sister-in-law, Arlene Rostenbach; and son-in-law, John P. Daggett.
Memorials may be given to Our Savior Lutheran Church of Newton, the American Parkinson’s Disease Association or the Iowa State University Foundation. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com.
Source: Newton Daily News; Thursday, July 8, 2010