O'Roake, Charles (Charlie) J. 1928-2015

OROAKE, PHELAN, KORDICK, MULVIHILL

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 4/1/2015 at 11:25:00

Charles (Charlie) J. O'Roake, 87, of Colfax, died March 30, 2015 at Mercy Hospice-Johnston. Funeral mass will be held on Monday, April 6, 2015, at 10:00 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church in Colfax. Burial will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery near Farrar. Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 5, 2015, from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. at the church. There will be a vigil service beginning at 6:00 p.m. Memorials may be directed to Dowling Catholic High School or St. Benedict's Abby in Benet Lake, Wisconsin. Condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com.

He was born at Mercy Hospital in Des Moines on Feb. 23, 1928 to John L. and Katharine (Phelan) O'Roake. He attended Valeria School and graduated from Dowling High School in Des Moines in 1946. At Dowling, he played football and baseball. He participated in the Iowa High School State Baseball Tournament. Following graduation, he played baseball in the Des Moines area.

In Aug. 29, 1959, Charlie married Theresa Kordick at St. Ambrose Cathedral in Des Moines. As a third generation farmer, Charlie lived and worked on the O'Roake family farm near Valeria his entire life. Upon his father's death in 1955, he began running the farm and never retired. He raised cattle, hogs, corn and soybeans. He was a Korean War era veteran in the Iowa Army Reserves. He was elected to the Valeria School Board and coached Little League baseball in Mingo. Charlie was an avid Chicago White Sox fan. He also enjoyed watching the Minnesota Vikings, the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Iowa State Cyclones. He was known for his sense of humor, hearty laugh, and a fondness for engaging in conversation with friends and family.

Charlie was preceded in death by his parents; infant son, Joseph; brother, Fr. John (Patrick) O'Roake, OSB; and sister, Jane O'Roake Mulvihill. He is survived by his wife, Theresa O'Roake, of Colfax; daughter, Carol O'Roake, of Des Moines; son, Charles O'Roake, of Colfax; daughter, Anne O'Roake, of Tampa, Fla.; son, John (Amanda) O'Roake, of Mason City; and grandson, Kinnick O'Roake, of Mason City. ~ The Coburn Funeral Home, Colfax, Iowa 30 Mar 2015.