Roland “Rollie” W. Ross, 87
Roland “Rollie” William Ross, 87, of Adams, died on June 30, 2009 at Adams Health Care Center in Adams.
Roland William (Rollie) Ross was born June 13, 1922 near Alta Vista, Iowa to William and Evelyn (Paschalke) Ross. When Roland’s father was transferred by the railroad, the family moved to the Taopi area, where Roland attended school and later went to work for the Chicago Great Western Railroad.
In 1941 he proudly enlisted in the Army/Air Force and served most of his time in New Guinea clearing land for airstrips. He belonged to the Adams Post 146 American Legion, where he was honored in 2006 for his 60 years of membership. After his service, he returned to Taopi.
Rollie was married to Grace Hueman on May 28, 1946 at St. Paul, Minn.; they had two children: Georgia and Terrance. In 1951, he went to work at the Austin Hormel Plant. In 1959, he built a new home and moved his family to Adams. After working 30 years, he retired from Hormel in 1981 and continued to live in the home he built until this spring when health issues prompted a move to Cedar Court assisted living.
His hobbies were fishing and hunting. He had a love for cars which was handed down to his son, Terry, and a love for birds which began when his grandson, Stacy, entrusted him with a parakeet named Spanky when he entered the Air Force in 1986. He continued to garden until just a few years ago but still managed to find a place for a tomato plant or two.
Roland is survived by his wife, Grace Ross, Adams; daughter, Georgia (Arlo) Scheevel, Austin; son, Terry (Pam) Ross, Austin; daughter-in-law, Arlene Hueman, Austin; grandsons, Wayne (Alicia) Scheevel, Stacy (Michelle) Scheevel; step-granddaughters, Kathy (Rick) Johnson, Karen (Mike) Vaith, Julie (Terry) Schmidt; great-grandchildren, Anna Scheevel, Danielle Haerer, Bryan Haerer, Matthew Scheevel, David Scheevel and Michael Kanne; sisters, Jean Gosha, Austin, LaRae Rarer, St. Paul; brother-in-law, Maury Hemley, St. Paul; many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; stepson, James Hueman; brothers, Dale and Duane; and sister, Darlene Hemley.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, July 3, 2009 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father James Seitz officiating. Interment will be in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Adams with Adams Post 146 American Legion in charge of military rites. Visitation will be at Adams Funeral Home on Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. and for one hour before the service at the church on Friday. The organist will be Helen King with soloist Virginia Bissen and violinist will be Anna Scheevel.
Honorary bearers will be Anna Scheevel, Danielle Haerer, Bryan Haerer, Matthew Scheevel and Michael Kanne. Casket Bearers will be David Scheevel, Wayne Scheevel, Stacy Scheevel, Gordy Briggs, Terry Schmidt and Arlo Scheevel.