Alice May (Knuths) RETLEFF

KNUTHS, RETLEFF, JACOBSON, BYCHURCH, PIEPER, JOHNSON, SCHUBERT, MADDEN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:57

Alice May Knuths Retleff
5 March 1940 --- 26 October 2021

Alice M. Retleff, 81, of Rowan, passed away on Tuesday, October 26, 2021 at her home in Rowan, Iowa. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at United Church of Rowan, 811 Pesch Street in Rowan, with Pastor Nancy Hofmeister officiating. Burial will take place at Graceland Cemetery in Rowan.

Visitation will be held on Monday, November 1, 2021 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Home, 111 Luick’s Lane South in Belmond, and continue one hour prior to services at the church on Tuesday.

Alice May, daughter of Dale and May Bell (Jacobson) Knuths, was born on March 5, 1940 in Clarion. Alice grew up north of Dows and attended school in Dows. While in high school, she lettered as a basketball player.

Alice worked at the hospital in Fort Dodge when she met her future husband, Larry Retleff. A few days after meeting, they went on a roller skating date at Lake Cornelia. On September 18, 1960, Alice and Larry were united in marriage at the Dows Presbyterian Church. They made their home on a farm near Rowan, where Alice helped on the farm and together they raised their four children. Alice was a stay at home mom for most of her children’s early years, but started working at We3 Market, Farm and Home, and later worked at the Belmond care center. After 30+ years, Alice retired at the age of 70.

Alice was active in the Rowan community and at the United Church of Rowan. She enjoyed tending to her vegetable and flower gardens in the summer and watching the birds, especially the cardinals. Christmas and the Fourth of July were her favorite holidays and loved to celebrate them.

Alice is survived by her children Randall Richard (Denise) Retleff of Ames, Rochelle Renae Retleff of Elmsford, New York, Ronald William (Helen) Retleff of Rowan, and Roddy Alan Retleff of Cherokee; grandchildren Amber (Chris) Bychurch of Luling, Louisiana, Nathan Retleff of Cherokee, Henry Retleff of Cherokee, Bryce (Cas) Pieper of Grimes, Nicole Pieper of Des Moines, Abby (Blaine) Johnson of Manhattan, Kansas, Garrett (Jordan) Schubert of Elkins Park, Pennsylvaina; eight great-grandchildren; sister Carol (Bob) Madden of Michigan; and six nieces and nephews.

She is preceded in death by her parents Dale and May Bell Knuths; husband Larry Retleff in 2011; and two brothers Alan Knuths and David Knuths.

https://www.ewingfh.com/obituaries/alice-may-knuths-retleff/