Dessel, Catherine Ann

Catherine Ann Dessel, 93, of West Union, died Friday, Oct. 5, 2012, at home, surrounded by her children. Services: 10:30 a.m. Monday at Holy Name Catholic Church in West Union, with the Rev. Dale Rausch officiating. Burial: Mount Calvary Cemetery. Visitation: 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Burnham-Wood and S.K. Rogers Funeral Home, West Union, with a 7:30 p.m. Scripture service.

Catherine Ann (Roach) Dessel, the daughter of Joseph and Julia (Houlahan) Roach, was born March 31, 1919, in Mason City, Iowa. The family moved to West Union, where she attended school and graduated from West Union High School in 1936. On Sept. 26, 1938, Catherine was united in marriage to George Frank Dessel at Holy Name Catholic Church in West Union. To this union seven children were born. Catherine was active in raising a family and also assisting George in the family furniture business, Dessel's Furniture. In later years she enjoyed reading, crossword puzzles, and most of all her family.

Catherine was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband of 57 years, George; two infant sons, Joseph and John; daughter, Joan Marie Whittier; seven brothers, John Roach, Joseph Roach, Monsignor William Roach, Tom Roach, Matthew Roach, Mark Roach and Patrick Roach; and three sisters, Mary Knight, Ruth Roach and Eileen Bily.

Catherine is survived by a son, Joseph Dessel of West Union; three daughters, Julia Dessel of West Union, Ruth Dessel of Minneapolis and Mary Dessel (James Marra) of Olympia, Wash.; eight grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Elizabeth (Lane) Ash of Elgin.

Published Oct. 7, 2012 in The Gazette