Rooney, Charles Anthony 1924-2011
ROONEY, VONDERSITT, MUSSER, OBRIEN, GREEN, STEWARD, MANUELITO, WIEMERSLAGE, INGRAM, WILCOX, MARSHALL, COURTNEY, FISCHER, ORRIS, FRANA
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 11/24/2012 at 12:34:30
Charles A. Rooney, age 86, of Decorah, IA, died Friday, June 17, 2011 at Aase Haugen Home in Decorah.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, June 21, at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah with Rev. Phillip Gibbs and Msgr. E.W. Lechtenberg officiating. Burial will be in St. Benedict Catholic Cemetery in Decorah with full military honors.
Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 P.M. on Monday June 20 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah, with a Rosary recited at 4:00 P.M. by the Knights of Columbus and a Vigil Service at 6:30 P.M. Monday. Visitation will also be on Tuesday one hour before the service at the church.
Charles Anthony Rooney was born on November 12, 1924 in Cresco, Iowa to Owen Walter and Rose Eleanor (Vondersitt) Rooney. Charlie attended St. Benedict Catholic School through the eighth grade and graduated from Decorah High School with the class of 1943. He attended the University of Colorado in Boulder. Charlie was a radio operator for the United States Navy during World War II from 1943 to 1946, and served on the USS Saratoga.
Charlie was united in marriage with Barbara Joan Musser on June 1, 1963 at St. Benedict Catholic Church. To this union two children were born: Ella Mae and David Charles. They joined Barbara’s three children, Arla, Sandy and Jim. Barbara died on June 2, 1969. On June 25, 1973 Charlie married Marcella Agnes O’Brien at St. Benedict Catholic Church. Together they fostered nine newborns for adoption as well as a five year old, and for five years babysat Jason Uhlenhake, who is considered a grandson.
From 1946 to 1989, Charlie was the owner and operator of Standard Service Station on Mechanic Street in Decorah, and from 1966 until his time of death, he served as an agent for the U-Haul Company. Charlie was a lifetime member of St. Benedict Catholic Church in Decorah. He was a member of the Elks and the V.F.W. and received the honor of the Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus on May 15, 1955.
Charlie was still operating the U-Haul business with Dick Headington, until a week ago, when he was admitted to the hospital. He was then transferred to the Aase Haugen Home where he passed away on June 17, 2011 at the age of 86.
Charlie is survived by his wife Marcie; five children: Arla (Paul) Green of Lafayette, IN, Sandy Steward of Albert Lea, MN, Jim (Roberta Manuelito) Musser of Thief River Falls, MN, Ellie Wiemerslage of Albert Lea, MN and David (Annette) Rooney of Decorah, IA; eight grandchildren: Alicia (Ryan) Ingram, Kade and Bess Wiemerslage, Hannah, Kaitlyn, Emma, Clara and Ellen Rooney; one great-granddaughter, Shayla Ingram; three sisters: Frances Wilcox of Cedar Rapids, IA, Rosemary (Jack) Marshall of Des Moines, IA and Patricia (Louis) Courtney of Decorah; three sisters-in-law: Mary (Roger) Fischer of Clutier, IA, Loretta (Don) Orris of Cedar Rapids, IA and Rose Frana of Calmar, IA; one brother-in-law, Steve (Mary) O’Brien of Dubuque, IA; many nieces, nephews and cousins; and long-time friends Pat Luren and Dick Headington.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Rose Rooney; his father- and mother-in-law, Frank and Bessie O’Brien; his first wife Barbara; one sister in infancy; and four brothers-in-law: Harry Wilcox, Gene, Robert and Leonard O’Brien.
Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database
St. Benedict Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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