Josephine Rozinek

JOSEPHINE J. ROZINEK

Ely

Josephine J. (Hartl) Rozinek, 97, of rural Ely, died after a brief illness on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016, at Northbrook Manor Care Center, Cedar Rapids. A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church. Burial will follow in St. John's Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Papich-Kuba Funeral Home East, 1228 Second St. SE, Cedar Rapids, where a rosary begins at 6:30 p.m.

Josephine was born to Edward F. and Dora A. (Mackey) Hartl in Putnam Township, Linn County, Iowa, on Jan. 18, 1919. She was the oldest of four farm girls ("daddy's boys") and a younger brother. She attended rural Honey Grove and Jappa schools until eighth grade in 1933.

She met Louis Rozinek at a polka dance in 1936, and they married on May 1, 1940. Together they had four children: Patsy, Rose, John and Ed. They started farming with just three cows, two sows, 10 pigs and 300 chicks on rented land from her Grandpa Mackey. Over the next 66 years with Lou, this grew into a thriving family farm on 345 owned acres.

In 1983, Josephine toured 11 countries in Europe with her sisters, Dorothy and Margaret.

Josephine was a member of St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church her whole life.

Her love and memories are cherished by her sisters, Dorothy Vislisel of Bertram and Margaret Barta of Cedar Rapids; brother, Edward "Sonny" (Madonna) Hartl of Bertram; children, Rose (Bob) Carlo and Ed Rozinek of Ely; daughter-in-law, Bernita Rozinek Ford of Ely; seven grandchildren, Brian, Lisa, Raeanne, Stacey, Stacy, Tammy and Todd; 16 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Louis; her son, John Rozinek; her daughter, Patsy Howell and husband Bunyan Jr.; her parents, Edward and Dora; her sister, Rose Barnett and husband Eugene Sr.; and brothers-in-law, Robert Vislisel and Louis Barta.