Fjelstul, Roger Keith 1932-2009
FJELSTUL, SIME, OLSON, JELACIC
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 8/29/2012 at 14:32:31
Roger K. Fjelstul, age 77 of Decorah, Iowa, died early Saturday morning, July 18, 2009 at Imperial Health Care Center in Naples, Florida.
Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, July 28, 2009 at First Lutheran Church in Decorah by Rev. Steven M. Jacobsen with burial in Phelps Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 4:00 – 7:00 P.M. Monday at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, and on Tuesday one hour before the service at the church.
Roger Keith Fjelstul was born April 13, 1932, in Decorah, Iowa, the son of Clarence F. and Lillian B. (Sime) Fjelstul. He attended Decorah Schools, where he was active in all sports, and he graduated with the class of 1950. He then started at Luther College and entered the U.S. Army on August 29, 1952. He was honorably discharged as a Sergeant on May 29, 1954. He then returned to Luther and graduated with the class of 1956. While at Luther, Roger played on the golf team and served as Coach while also playing his last two years.
He was united in marriage to Roberta Ann Olson on August 2, 1955 at First United Methodist Church in Decorah, Iowa. This union was blessed with three children: Scott, Jill and Fay.
Roger attended Worsham College of Mortuary Science in Chicago, Illinois, graduating in 1957. Roger and Roberta then returned to Decorah and he joined his father-in-law, Robert Olson, of Olson Funeral Home in Decorah, and also helped with the operation of Decorah Furniture Company. Robert retired in 1970 and Roger took over both businesses then. In May of 1979 Roger purchased the Steine Funeral Home on East Water Street, which had originally been owned by his father, Clarence, from 1936 to 1948, operated as Fjelstul Funeral Home. The apartment above the funeral home was the family’s residence. In April of 1986 the large addition to the Steine Funeral Home was completed. At that time the Olson-Fjelstul Funeral Home on East Main Street was closed and everything moved to the East Water Street location and it became Fjelstul Funeral Home. He retired in 2003 but still remained active in the business.
Roger was a lifelong member of First Lutheran Church and former President of the congregation. He was an active member of the Decorah community including the Rotary Club, was named a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International, the Jaycees, the Chamber of Commerce, the Elks’ Lodge, the American Legion, and Oneota Golf & Country Club, where he was also a former President, was very active and started the Pee Wee Tournament for juniors, and helped with two Luther golf tournaments for many years. He served on the Civil Service Commission of the City of Decorah for over twenty- five years. He was inducted into the Luther College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1976. Roger was also a member of the Iowa Funeral Directors’ Association and the National Funeral Directors’ Association. Roger and Bert enjoyed traveling, golfing, going out to eat and spending the winter months in South Florida.
He was preceded in death by his father, Clarence, on November 21, 1948, and his mother, Lillian on August 1, 1995.
Roger is survived by his wife, Roberta of Decorah; his son, Scott (Ann) Fjelstul of Decorah; his two daughters: Jill Fjelstul of Tavares, FL and Fay Jelacic of Fountain Hills, AZ; five grandchildren, John and Jay Fjelstul, and Isabella, Stefana and Josephina Jelacic; his two brothers: Dean (Alice) Fjelstul of Wayzata, MN and Robert (Lynne) Fjelstul of Surprise, AZ; two nieces, one nephew and many cousins.
Memorials may be given to First Lutheran Church, Luther College or for memorial gifts at Oneota Golf & Country Club.
Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database
Phelps Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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