Colene J. Rowedder

Vistation Wednesday, May 10, after 4:00 pm Ohde Funeral Home, Manning

Service THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2006, 10:30 AM UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Manning, Iowa

Officiating REVEREND LANETTE PLAMBECK

Music HOW GREAT THOU ART? IT IS WELL WITH MY SOUL? GEORGIA LOHRMANN & JOANN KARSTEN, VOCALISTS JUST A CLOSER WALK WITH THEE? CONGREGATION JOANN KARSTEN, ORGANIST

Interment MANNING CEMETERY, MANNING, IOWA

Casket Bearers PAUL CHRISTENSEN DEL CHRISTENSEN JIM MOHR JEFF MOHR JUSTIN JAMES CASEY ASHWILL

Honorary Casket Bearers KELLI ROWEDDER HOLLI ROWEDDER

Colene Joy, daughter of Alvin and Bernice (Frank) Gray, was born February 28, 1931, near Botna in Shelby County, Iowa. She attended rural school through the eighth grade and then graduated from Manning High School with the Class of 1948. She then earned her two year elementary teaching degree from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls. Colene taught for two years in Glidden before her marriage on April 24, 1952, to Virgil J. Rowedder in Colorado Springs, CO. They lived there for a year before moving to a farm northwest of Manning. Three children were born to this union. In 1964 Colene returned to elementary school teaching in Manning. Over the ensuing years, Colene completed college classes from Drake University earning her Bachelors Degree in the early 1970s from Midwestern College in Denison. The family lived on the farm until 1970 when they moved into their new home in Manning. Colene retired in 1993 after 29 years of teaching in Manning. Her husband died in 1984 and Colene remained in their home in Manning. Colene was a member of the United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, was a Trustee, and served on various committees. She was especially proud of serving on the Building Committee for the new church completed in 1990. She was also a member of P.E.O., the Manning Quasquicentennial History Book Committee and was a Speak Up trainer for RSVP. After surgery, Colene struggled with her health and continued to receive various forms of treatment. She was undergoing routine care at the Manning Regional Healthcare Center when she died suddenly and unexpectedly on Sunday, May 7, 2006, at the age of 75 years, 2 months, and 9 days. Beside her parents, husband and infant son Jon Alvin, she is preceded in death by her son-in-law Marvin Ashwill. She is survived by two children Mark Rowedder and wife Martha of Mill Hall, PA and Becky Ashwill of Wagoner, OK; three grandchildren: Kelli Rowedder of Duluth, GA; Holli Rowedder of Mill Hall, PA; and Casey Ashwill of Wagoner, OK; great grandson Casey Carlyn Ashwill; sisters Adele and husband Ray Christensen of Manning and Connie and husband Norman James of Scottsdale, Arizona; brothers-in-law LeRoy Rowedder and wife Delores and Wilmer Ehrichs of Denison; sisters-in-law Joan and husband Russell Mohr of Manning and Ethel Rowedder of California; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to Manning Public Library or United Methodist Church.