ROETHLER, Donald Joseph 1932-2000

ROETHLER, WORPLE, MUSSMANN, SCHROETTER, MAI, PEARSON

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 10/16/2011 at 21:02:40

Donald J. Roethler, 67, of Elma, Iowa, died on Tuesday, April 11, 2000, of cancer, at his home.

Funeral services were held on Friday, April 14, 2000, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Riceville, with Pastor M. Versemann officiating. Inurnment will be in the church cemetery at a later date.

Donald Joseph Roethler was born on May 6, 1932 at the rural Elma, Howard county, farm home of his parents, Leo and Mae (Mussmann) Roethler. He attended Afton #4 rural school, and was a 1951 graduate of Riceville High School.

He was married to Lavonne Worple on February 12, 1955, at St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Riceville. Her served with the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict. The couple lived in Waterloo for a time after his discharge and later they farmed for 32 years in the Riceville/Elma area before retiring to Elma in 1991.

Don enjoyed playing guitar and had composed eight contemporary Christian songs. His music and his gardening brought him joy and peace.

Don is survived by his wife, Lavonne; a son, Bruce, of Colonial Manor Home in Elma; a daughter, Brenda (Steve) Schroetter of Lime Springs; six grandchildren: Mark Roethler and his fiance Renae Mai of Elma; Paul Roethler of Charles City, James Roethler of Hampton, and Joshua, Jacob and Daniel Schroetter of Lime Springs; a great-grandson, Dillon, the son of Mark and Renae; two daughters-in-law, Crystal Roethler of Charles City and Theresa Koebrich of Hampton; six brothers: Milo of Waterloo, Wally (June) of Waukon, Kenneth (Evelyn) of Charles City; James (Anna Mae) of Lime Springs, LaRoy (Marge) of Elma and Robert (Darlys) of Orchard; one sister Lavonne (Burl) Armstrong of Waterloo.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson, Brandon Pearson; one brother, John (Jack); and one sister, Lucille Roney.

[ From a typed document at the Riceville Public Library ]