Sunday, Rodman Earle 1937-2009
SUNDAY, MILLER, HANSEN, VINE, LOWRY, COSTA
Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 12/8/2012 at 13:09:43
Rodman Earle Sunday peacefully passed away in the care of WMC Hospice on Tuesday, December 29, 2009 with his loving wife, Dorothy, at his side.
Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, January 8, 2010 at Decorah Lutheran Church by Rev. Bryan Robertson with inurnment in Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah in the spring of 2010.
Visitation will be from 4:00-6:00 P.M. Thursday January 7 at Fjelstul Funeral Home.
Rodman Sunday was born August 2, 1937 to Lester and Maybelle “Mayme” (Miller) Sunday in Decorah, Iowa. He attended the Decorah Public Schools through grade 11. His family moved to Sioux City where Rod graduated from East High School in 1955.
Rod married Maxine Hansen on April 11, 1964 in Spencer, Iowa. They later divorced.
On January 2, 1985, Rod married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Alberts Vine at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Pflugerville, Texas. They resided in Texas until May of 2002 when they retired to their hometown of Decorah, Iowa. On September 15, 2002 Rod suffered a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.
While attending high school, Rod began his sales career with J.C. Penney Department Store in Decorah. He had a lifetime career of sales which included office supply companies, insurance, marketing management consultant services and national moving companies.
Rod was an inspiration to everyone he met with his congenial smile and positive attitude. He enjoyed reading, puzzles, and musical concerts and traveling the world by DVD with Dorothy in the comfort of their home. He was an avid movie fan from childhood to his last days. Rod was an excellent bowler and when he could no longer bowl, he continued his love for the sport by following the professional bowlers on TV. He dearly loved his dog “Lillie” and enjoyed sitting on the porch visiting with family and friends while watching the birds and backyard critters.
Rod enjoyed telling stories about his life and especially the love story of meeting Dorothy again and marrying her. He often reminisced about his childhood days on his Grandma and Grandpa’s farm where he spent his summers and many weekends helping with the farm work, picnics and playing horseshoes. His fondest memory of the Sunday farm was watching his Grandma make lefse on the big cook stove and sitting by the radio with her listening to “Our Gal Sunday.”
Survivors include his wife Dorothy; three aunts: Elaine Lowry and Norma Costa of Decorah and Betty Sunday of Waukegan, Illinois; three stepsons: Carlton Vine and wife Joi of Johnstown, Ohio, Martin Vine and wife Kimberly of Walker, Iowa, and Jeffrey Vine and wife Patricia of Oakdale, California; one stepdaughter, Crystal Vine of Center Point, Iowa; ten step grandchildren, five step great grandchildren and many cousins.
The family would like to especially thank Dr. David Maher, Home Health and Hospice staff and the WMC staff for their loving and attentive care, Pastors James Glesne, Ole Winter, Bryan Robertson, Allen Vik and Paul Hougen for their visits and the many friends who kept Rod in their loving thoughts and prayers.
Honorary Pall Bearers are Dr. J. David Maher and the Winneshiek Medical Center Home Health and Hospice staff who carried Rod for seven years.
Source: Fjelstul Funeral Home database
Decorah Lutheran Cemetery
Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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