Rima, Earl John ,Sr. -- 1917 - 1999

HEADINGTON, RIMA, DONALD, BUSHMAN, ROTHMEYER, WILKES, KRABY, HENNING, WOOD

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 6/25/2010 at 08:22:40

Decorah Journal, Thursday, December 9, 1999.

Earl John Rima, Sr.

Earl Rima, Sr., 82, of Decorah, died at his home Monday, Dec. 6, 1999.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, Dec. 8, at 11 a.m., at Decorah Lutheran Church, with the Revs. James Glesne, Tim Tostengard, Ole Winter and Gary Krapfl officiating.

Diane Kvamme was the organist. Wayne Mitchell sang the United States Navy hymn "Eternal Father, Strong to Save." The congregation sang "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Beautiful Savior." The eulogy was by Debra McKernan.

Casket bearers were John Ayers, Don Harvey, Jimmy Henning, Don Kraby, Dana Rima, David Strand, Loren Wenthold and Walter "Butch" Wood.

Honorary bearers were Kenneth Bjerke, Ransome Bolson, Chester Finholt, Martin Grinna, William D. Headington, Robert R. Hunt, Alanson Lillibridge, Denton Marsh, Lester Olson, G. J. Seegmiller, James O. Thompson and Ray Thompson.

Burial was at St. Benedict Catholic Cemetery, with full military rites by Helof-Holm V.F.W. Post No. 1977 and Bernatz-Symonds American Legion Post No. 163.

Visitation, including a V.F.W. memorial service, was held at the Fjelstul Funeral Home, which handled arrangements.

Earl John Rima, Senior, was born Sept. 8, 1917, in Decorah, the son of Roger Byan and Sadie Frances (Headington) Rima.

He was baptized and confirmed at Decorah Lutheran Church. Earl was a 1936 graduate of Decorah High School.

He served in the United States Navy from Dec. 9, 1942, until Oct. 30, 1945.

Earl was married to Marian L. Donald June 1, 1939, in Eldora. She died April 21, 1987.

He was married to Marilyn (Bushman) Rothmeyer Jan. 14, 1984, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua.

Earl worked at the Decorah Post Office for many years, retiring in December of 1982.

He was a member of Decorah Lutheran Church, where he was an usher; a member of the V.F.W. for 52 years; and a volunteer fireman for many years. Earl also was a sports enthusiast.

Survivors include three sons, E. John, Jr. (Jean) Rima of Charles City, Richard H. (Donna) Rima of Monument, Colo., and Mark W. (Judy) Rima of Decorah; two daughters, Mary F. (Tom) Wilkes of Prairie du Chien, Wis., and Nancy V. Rima of San Diego, Calif.; 10 step-children, Gary and Connie Rothmeyer of Ossian, Janice and Larry Lensch, of Mesa, Ariz., Bonnie and Loren Wenthold of Decorah, Mike and Lyn Rothmeyer of Bloomington, Minn., Pat and Rich Phillips of Muscatine; Dawn Severson of Calmar, Eleane Hageman of Clermont, Eileen and James Blong of Calmar, Marcia Timp of Decorah, and Paula and David Strand of Decorah; two grandchildren; 30 step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two step-greatgrandchildren; one brother, Roger and Eris Rima of Easton, Md.; and one sister, Marjorie Kraby of Apple Valley, Minn.

Earl Rima Sr. was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Marian; one brother, Dana Rima; and two sisters, Stella Henning and Lorraine Wood.

Transcribed by an IA GenWeb Volunteer from obituaries found in the Howard-Winneshiek Genealogy Society Library, Cresco, Iowa.