February 27, 1930 - April 30, 2025
Hi there—it’s me Donna. I did something today that I have never done before but knew that some day I would do---I died!! Here is my story.
I was born on Feb. 27, 1930, the only offspring of Ray and Eva Bernice Frederickson Vrooman. I had four grandparents, two sets of uncles and aunts, and five cousins. We all lived in or near Elmore, Minn. This is where I got my education and graduated as valedictorian of my Elmore High School class of 1948. In my junior year I met the love of my life, Virgil Theodore Roethler (“Curly”), at a dance at the Legion Ballroom in Bancroft. We were wed on Jan. 13, 1949, at St. Cecelia’s Catholic Church in Algona and I moved onto the Roethler family farm southwest of Algona. This is where we raised our eight kids: David Kenneth, Virginia Rae, Jacque Lynn, Renee Marie, Charles Patrick, Randy Joseph, Ronald James and Daniel Robert. After Curly retired from farming in 1982, we stayed on the farm until moving into our nice house on Kennedy St. in Algona proper. In 1996, we made a move to three acres with a nice brick house with a red tiled roof in Rockport, Texas. We enjoyed about twelve years in each of these locations.
I am a “people person” so I belonged to many organizations and enjoyed them all. I also enjoyed crocheting afghans, reading, playing cards and dominoes, and traveling. Virg and I traveled in all of lower 48 except New England; visited Mexico twice; camped in the Canadian provincial parks; and we flew to the Cayman Islands. I also enjoyed a great trip to Holland where my Vrooman ancestors came from and to Sweden where I still have Fredrickson relatives.
In 2008, when our health began to go downhill, we decided that we needed to be closer to some of the kids so we gave up our acreage in Texas and moved into an apartment on East Elm St. in Algona. Later we found the North Liberty Living Center in North Liberty, Iowa and moved into an apartment there. David and Jacque were both nearby and helped us with doctor appointments and other things we were unable to do. In August of 2018, Renee moved to a townhouse just a few blocks from our place, so we had more help. We spent two years at Keystone Place in North Liberty but after Virg died I moved in with Renee, where I have been living for nearly two years.
I leave behind me the kids, Dave and Barb of Iowa City; Ginny and her special friend Steve, both from St. Paul, Mnn.; Jacque of Coralville; Renee Fowler of North Liberty; Charlie and Deb, Blue Springs, Mo.; Joe and Suad of Sunnyvale, Calif.; Ron of Grandview, Mo.; Dan and Carm of Lee’s Summit, Mo.; and former daughter-in-law Lori Kuester. I also leave thirteen grandchildren: Chloe and Eva; Dillon and Colin; Stevie, Melissa and Justin; Dawn and Ryan; Ramsey; Kelsi; Danielle and Nick. I also leave eight great-grand kids, one great-great-grandkid, five step-grandchildren, several step-great and greatgreat-grandkids, besides a whole pack of nieces and nephews, all on the Roethler side of course.
Do not mourn my passing as I have had a long and fulfilling life and have no regrets. (Well, maybe a few). I am looking forward to a big reunion with those who have gone on ahead of me: my husband Virg, my parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, my two sons-in-law Stephen Fowler and David Hicks (I am hoping that Hicks will sing “Whiskey in the Jar” for me again.) All my Roethler in-laws, step-granddaughter Shannon and many friends. What a reunion that will be.
So, until we meet again, thanks for the memories.
With, love, Donna BCNU
PS My ashes are to be mixed with Virg’s and spread over the Iowa prairie soil that he liked so well. Please come and join the fun. I will be watching.