Ostermeier, Harriett (Rowcliffe) 1923 – 2006

OSTERMEIER, ROWCLIFFE, NEUBAUER, DUFF, WILLEMSEN, CANNON, DAWSON, BITTERMAN

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 4/15/2013 at 17:45:11

Source: Cresco Times October 11, 2006, Page 6A

Funeral services for Harriett Ostermeier of Ridgeway, IA were held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 7, 2006 at St. Paul’s Maple Leaf Lutheran Church, rural Elma with Rev. Dan Christensen officiating. Norma Groth was the organist and accompanied those in attendance singing “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God”, “On Eagles Wings”, and “In the Garden.” Pallbearers were: Keith Cannon, Dave Christensen, Andrew Havlik, Jonathan Havlik, Rick Bitterman, Jim Duff, Wes Rowcliffe, and Merle Havlik. Inurnment will be held at a later date in the church cemetery.

Friends were to call from 1:00 p.m. until service time at the church on Saturday.

Conway-Kolbet Funeral Home in Elma, IA handled the arrangements.

Harriett, 83, died Monday, October 2, 2006 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident west of Decorah.

Harriett Rowcliffe Ostermeier was born July 8, 1923, at Forest City, IA, the daughter of Willis and Elsa (Neubauer) Rowcliffe. She graduated from Mason City High School in 1942. After graduating, she worked as a telephone operator in Mason City. She later moved with a friend to the Michigan City, IN and LaPorte, IN area.

On February 8, 1947, she married Earl Ostermeier. After their marriage the couple resided in the Michigan City and LaPorte, IN area until their retirement in 2001. In 2002 the couple moved to Ridgeway, IA.

Throughout her life in Indiana she worked at the Pullman Car Factory, at J.C.Penney as a bookkeeper, at Vail Toy Store as a manager, H & R Block and as a Real estate Agent for Merrion and Associates in LaPorte, IN.

She served as a Sunday School Teacher in Indiana for 16 years. Harriett enjoyed working, cooking, and the couple’s pet birds, rabbit and dog ‘Simba.”

Harriett is survived by three sisters: Lola C. (Roy) Duff of LaCrescent, MN, Bonnie Willemsen of Mason City, IA, and Ruth Cannon of Elma, IA; two sisters-in-law: Eythel Rowcliffe of Osage, IA and Jane Dawson of Chesterton, IN; a brother-in-law: Dan Ostermeier of Michigan City, IN; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother: Walter Rowcliffe; a nephew: Steve Cannon; a niece: Bonnie Rowcliffe; three brothers-in-law: Marvin Willemsen, Roy Bitterman, and Melvin Cannon.

Transcribed from a newspaper clipping submitted by Janice Sowers.