RHOADES, Alice Josephine (nee Wirth) 1919-2004
RHOADES, WIRTH, SRAMEK
Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/22/2009 at 21:00:40
Alice Josephine Wirth Rhoades
ST. ANSGAR, IOWA — Alice Josephine Wirth Rhoades, 85, passed away peacefully Thursday (Dec. 9, 2004) at the Good Samaritan Center in St. Ansgar.
Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at First Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar with the Rev. Robert Porisch officiating. Burial will be in St. Ansgar Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home in St. Ansgar.
Alice Rhoades was born on the home farm near St. Ansgar, Iowa, on Jan. 27, 1919, to John and Josephine Sramek Wirth. She was baptized May 12, 1928, at the First Lutheran Church parsonage by the Rev. Waldeland and confirmed June 4, 1932, in First Lutheran Church.
She received her education in the St. Ansgar schools, graduating with the class of 1936, then continuing her education at Iowa State University in Ames.
In 1940, she went to Elm Grove, Wis., to help care for a new nephew. While there, she attended the Milwaukee Business Institute.
She was employed as a cost accountant for the Blatz Brewing Co. and worked in Milwaukee as an accountant until her marriage to Darwin Ross Rhoades on Sept. 15, 1945, at First Lutheran Church in St. Ansgar.
She lived with her mother until her husband finished his enlistment in the U.S. Navy in October 1948.
The next year they started farming the Wirth family farms east of St. Ansgar. Her mother lived with them until she could build a house in town for herself and her brother, Charles.
Alice was active in serving her church by teaching Sunday school, serving as president of the Cemetery Society, (even before she knew where the cemetery was) serving with the First Lutheran Church Women's Group, the Deborah Circle and Bible studies.
She was also active as a volunteer in the community, a member of the Garden Club and the Federated Woman's Club. As a member of the American Legion Auxiliary she held many offices at the local level, served as county president, held each of the offices at the district level and served as chairman of the state membership committee.
In 1963, she and her husband built Cedar Lanes Bowling Center in St. Ansgar. As certified bowling instructors they offered bowling instruction as part of the high school's physical education program and operated a very successful youth bowling program with many individuals and teams qualifying for state tournaments.
The adult leagues included men's, women's and mixed doubles, also sending many bowlers to state tournaments. Many town residents thank Alice and Dusty for teaching them the sport and for their dedication to the sport and the community. In return, they thank the community for all of the support they received. They sold the bowling alley in 1970. It is still in operation today.
In 1968, they purchased a home in St. Ansgar and continued both business and farming. They retired from farming 1982.
They did much traveling around the state for the American Legion and Auxiliary as well as attending four national conventions.
They enjoyed visiting children and grandchildren as well as time spent fishing and relaxing at their cabin in Waterville, Minn.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 55 years, Darwin; her brother, William Wirth; her sister, Marjorie Wirth Reynolds; her brother-in-law, James Reynolds; and nephew, Gary Wirth.
Alice leaves to mourn three children, son, Duane and wife, Lois, of Loves Park, Ill.; son, Raymond and wife, Palma, of Kennesaw Ga.; and daughter Vicki and husband, Steve Ross, of Pennington, Minn.; five grandsons, Duane Rhoades Jr. and wife, Joann, of Rockford, Ill., Paul Rhoades of Athens, Ga., Barrett Rhoades of Athens, Ga., Forrest Ross of Bemidji, Minn., and Axel Ross of Pennington, Minn., along with many nieces and nephews.
Memorials are preferred to the American Legion Foundation, Bremwood Children's Home of Waverly or Opportunity Village of Clear Lake.
Schroeder & Sites Funeral Home, (641) 713-4920.
[Mason City GLobe Gazette -- Dec. 11, 2004]
PHOTO BELOW IS HER 1936 HIGH SCHOOL CLASS PHOTO
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