Marlene Joyce (Hasstedt) Rossiter of Winfield, Iowa and more recently Lake Worth, Florida, passed away on Wednesday, September 18, 2024. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Service of Winfield. Funeral Services will be 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 25, 2024 at the funeral home. Burial will be in Winfield Scott Township Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for the Winfield Lions Club Beautification Committee in Marlene’s name. Memorials may be sent to the funeral home at 102 S. Olive/P.O. Box 64 Winfield, Iowa 52659 or left for the family at the funeral home. Sympathy notes may be left for the family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com.
Marlene Joyce Hasstedt was born on April 11, 1931 in Ogden, Iowa, the daughter of the late John and Clarice Caldwell Hasstedt. Marlene graduated High School in 1949 and attended Iowa State College where she met her husband, Myers Rossiter. They were married February 18, 1951. They enjoyed farming, flying, traveling and family activities with their two daughters, Vicki Lynn and Julee Ann.
Marlene’s hobbies included quilting, sewing, gardening, watercolor painting and closely following basketball and football. She was a 4-H leader for 15 years, member of Ametie Federation Club and TTT member for 43 years. As a member of the Methodist Church Marlene served as Trustee 6 years, Sunday School teacher and Historian of the Women’s Society, member of the Iowa and International Flying Farmers for which she served as Hostess in 1995. Ursula Kick, a foreign exchange student from Germany, was a member of the Rossiter Family from 1969-70 while she attended Winfield High School. Marlene and her husband enjoyed many winters in Florida, travels to England, Spain, Italy, Wales, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii and many flights in their Cessna Airplane.
Marlene will be deeply missed by her daughters, Vicki (Chris Bennett) Kirsner of West Palm Beach, Florida and Julee (David) Evans of Barnesville, Maryland; grandchildren, Michael Kirsner of West Palm Beach, Florida, Dr. Andrew Kirsner of Lakewood, Colorado, Brianne Evans of England and Dylan Evans of Aurora, Colorado; great-grandson, Jonathan Kirsner; sister, Madonna Woodley and nephews, Greg and Fred Woodley,
Marlene was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Kenneth Hasstedt and Roger Hasstedt.
In 2022 Marlene moved to Lake Worth, Florida where she enjoyed the close proximity to family and numerous outings including Polo, Swan Lake Ballet, Symphony at the Hardrock Casino, Birthday Celebrations and family bar-b-ques. Marlene made many friends at Assisted Living and was cherished by staff and residents alike. She was deeply loved by her family and will be greatly missed.
He was born December 16, 1923 in Burlington, Iowa, to Albert Vern and Wilma (Wagner) Eisenhart.
He fell madly in love with his future wife, Helen Galvin, while they were attending Burlington High School together. He remained madly in love with her for the 75 years, 3 weeks and 3 days of their marriage before her death in 2018.
Helen and Bob were married on December 27, 1942, before he joined the Marines to serve as an aerial navigator in the Pacific during World War II. They had two children together, Ann and Robert Wayne.
After the war, Bob and his young family lived in a Quonset hut while he earned his chemistry degree from Iowa State College in 1948. Almost 40 years later he got a Master’s in Environmental Science from State University of Illinois in 1984.
Bob started his career at the Burlington Atomic Energy Commission and Iowa Army Ammunition plant eventually rising to chief chemist. He then went on to positions in Arizona and Wisconsin with titles including pyrotechnic engineer, explosives chemist, and upper atmosphere chemical payload engineer.
His attention switched from fire to water when he became a Resource Planner and Environmental Protection Engineer for the Illinois EPA in Petersburg, IL. He worked at the Illinois EPA until retirement.
Indeed, Bob was passionate about the environment long before it became a widely acknowledged issue of concern. After moving to Illinois, he helped found the first chapter of the Sierra Club in the state. He participated in a field study program, Project Ocean Search, where he was dive buddies with Jean-Michael Cousteau, son of Jacques Cousteau. In his 70s he went on a scientific research expedition to Antarctica.
He was an avid traveler throughout his life going to every continent but Australia. He and Helen went on multiple international cruises when they were in their 80s and after her death he traveled to Iceland with his granddaughters in his 90s.
Much of Bob and Helen’s travel was for the 30+ work mission trips they took with United Methodist Volunteers in Mission, including to Alaska and Africa. But Haiti held a truly special place in their hearts and was where they did most of their mission work, building schools and churches and other assistance projects.
Bob was active in community life wherever they lived, volunteering for, and often holding office in, community organizations such as school boards, planning and zoning commissions, symphony boards, Boy Scouts, and the US Junior Chamber of Commerce.
Bob was involved in a wide variety of hobbies and volunteer projects over the years. He performed in community theater, did acrobatic horse riding and gymnastics in his youth, and participated in volunteer archaeological digs. He preferred fact to fiction, reading through the encyclopedia at least twice and rarely watching television.
And he always sang in the choir. Singing was a passion for Bob, which drew him to join church and community choirs. A tenor, he was named “Outstanding New Singer” at the International United Methodist church choir in Atlanta. He co-founded the Menard County Singers who sang at the dedication of Lincoln’s Presidential Museum in Springfield, IL.
In 2007, Helen and Bob moved to Portland, to be closer to family including their two oldest great-grandchildren, Cecelia and Rowan. They would watch the kids after school, read them books and ply them with ice cream.
Survivors include five grandchildren, Amy Denniston of Washington, DC; Sara (Bill) Eddie of Portland, OR; Eric Eisenhart (Kat Ogaz) of Santa Rosa, CA; Joshua Eisenhart of Sebastopol, CA; Abrie Eisenhart of Kailu-Kona, HI; six great-grandchildren; two nieces, Jill Quakenbush of Washington, IA and Leslie Simon of Glenview, IL; and a nephew Jay Simon of Littleton, CO.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen, his children Ann Galvin-Eisenhart and Robert Wayne Eisenhart and his siblings Wilmer (Bill) Eisenhart and Joan (Jo) Simon.
The Graveside Committal Service for Robert and Helen Eisenhart will be September 21st at 1:00 PM at Aspen Grove Cemetery in Burlington, Iowa.
Prugh Funeral Service is in care of the arrangements.
Condolences can be sent to the family by visiting Robert’s obituary at www.prughfuneral.com.
Patricia was born March 18, 1936 in Ottumwa, Iowa, the daughter of Harold and Ollie (Annis) Hartley. On August 24, 1957 she married Ronald D. Van Niewaal in Pella, Iowa. He preceded her in death July 9, 2019.
Mrs. VanNiewaal was raised and educated in the Ottumwa area. She began working at a young age to help provide for her family. Shortly after her marriage, she and Ronnie relocated to Lomax, where she would spend the rest of her life as homemaker. She loved her family and especially loved cooking for her children and grandchildren. She was a member of the Lomax Saddle Club and attended Wednesday bingo night in Lomax, where she provided meals and desserts to fund-raise for the Lomax Haunted House Boys. She also enjoyed attending the Auction House in Ft. Madison.
Survivors include four children: Vikki Bowers of Lomax, Rod (Jeannie) Van Niewaal of Carman, Illinois, Ronnie Walker of Keosauqua, Iowa and Melissa Walker of Ft. Madison; 16 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren and a special niece: Tina (Rick) Kienlen of Burlington.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her parents; one son: Randy Van Niewaal; one daughter in infancy: Brenda Van Niewaal and three siblings: Harold and Harry Hartley and Dorothy Enloe.
The family plans a graveside service, for Ronald and Patricia, at 10:30 a.m. Friday, September 27, 2024 at Crane Cemetery, near Lomax, Illinois. The family plans to gather at The Pink Tavern following the service.
A memorial fund has been established in her memory. Contributions may be left at the service or mailed to the Patricia Van Niewaal Memorial Fund, c/o Banks & Beals Funeral Home, P.O. Box 503, LaHarpe, Illinois, 61450.
