Leroy DeWitt Roseman (1923)

ROSEMAN, DEWITT, CHAMBERLAIN

Posted By: Pat Hochstetler (email)
Date: 11/16/2014 at 15:44:37

Earlham Echo – Earlham, Iowa
August 1923

Leroy Roseman, who with his brother Paul came to Earlham August 8th from Wellington, Kansas, to spend several months working for their uncle J. W. Roseman, died unexpectedly at the latter’s home at about five o’clock Saturday morning after a ten days illness. Soon after coming here the young man complained of sore throat and by Saturday the physician had been called to attend him for what appeared to be an ordinary attack of summer Flu. Unusual symptoms developed by Monday, the patient being unable to take nourishment and appearing to suffer with a paralysis of the throat muscles such as to prevent his swallowing. He became partially delirious, and his case was eventually diagnosed as sleeping sickness with throat paralysis. Even at this time the case was not considered critical, but it seemed to become more so as the week progressed, and on Saturday morning he slipped quietly into eternity, without a struggle.

Funeral services were held at the home Sunday afternoon in charge of Rev. Allwell, and the body was taken the same evening by J. W. Roseman to Kansas City to be accompanied from there to Wellington by the brother Paul. Interment was at Wellington following a service there at the boys’ home. The following obituary tells the life story of Leroy DeWitt Roseman:

On August 20th, 1904 at their home near Van Meter there came to gladden the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Roseman, a son and they called him Leroy DeWitt. While still a small boy, the parents moved to Kansas, where the greater part of his life was spent.

He was converted in early life and lived a very devoted Christian life, unusual in one so young. His ambition was to live for the good of humanity, and he was planning to fit himself for a missionary.

In July 1921 he came to Earlham to visit and spent about four months. While here he attended the M.E. church and being a regular attendant at all the service, he made many warm friends. To know him was to love him.

On August 8th, he with his brother Paul came to visit his uncle and other relatives. On the following day he took sick, but it was thought to be nothing serious until two days before his death. All that a loving aunt and uncle, brother and cousins could do, was done, but to no avail. The aunt was at his bedside almost constantly night and day, doing everything that a mother could do or would have done.

But on the morning of August 18th, just at the break of day he passed quietly away. Those who mourn his going are the father and mother, two sisters, one brother, two grandmothers, three uncles, two aunts, several cousins and a host of friends and neighbors.

Remember now they Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not nor the years draw nigh. When thou shalt say, “I have no pleasure in them.”
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Earlham Echo – Earlham, Iowa
September 6, 1923

Leroy DeWitt Roseman was born near De Soto, Iowa August 19, 1904 and died at the home of his uncle in Earlham, Iowa, August 18, 1923, aged 18 years, 11 months and 20 days. In company with his parents he left Iowa when a child and moved to Sterling, Rice County, Kansas. A few years later the home was made in the vicinity of Wellington, where most of his life has been spent. When a boy of 8 he was converted under the ministry of Rev. Switzer and united with the church in Wellington on confession of faith. The church records show that he was received at the altar of the Methodist Church February 22, baptized March the first and received into full membership April 5, 1914. When the family home was made in the vicinity of Prairie Center Church he moved his membership to that organization and was a member there at the time of his death.

Leroy had completed his three years of the high school course of study and was a member of the senior class of this next year. He was an active worker in the high school, being a member of the Y.M.C.A., acting last year as teacher and leader of the Bible study class. He was also business manager of the Crimson Rambler, the local high school paper. He was intensely interested in all forms of church work, giving special attention the Sunday School and Epworth League. In the latter organization he was treasurer at the time of his death. Before leaving this summer he had promised to engage in Boy Scout work and was slated for one of the assistant scout masters.

The same enthusiasm which he had for other things was carried into his Christian life. To him Christianity meant more than a mere profession or the joining of the church, it meant a life given over to the service of the church. Several months ago he decided to devote his talents to some line of Christian work, the only question unsettled was, whether he would spend his life in home or foreign missionary fields.

He was frank by nature. One of the first impressions any one would have in talking with him was, here is a young man who has no secrets to hide. He talked the way he believed and lived the way he talked.

His standard of the Christian life was high and about the only criticism I ever heard him offer, was made about some folks who join the church and then shun all kinds of responsibilities. He took the saying of Jesus very literally for a young person, when he laid down this condition, “If any man will come after me let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.”

His going away in young manhood will be keenly felt by the immediate members of the family, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Roseman, his brother Paul and two sisters, Alice and Helen, and his grandmother, Mrs. DeWitt and his aunt, Mrs. Bessie Chamberlain, but the loss is also one that is felt by the church and community at large.

Gravestone Photo
 

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