Roe, JoDee (Ekstrom)

JoDee (Ekstrom) Roe, 77, of Fairfield, died peacefully Aug. 25, 2011, at the Van Buren Good Samaritan Center in Keosauqua. Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 29, at First Baptist Church, 205 W. Broadway Ave., Fairfield. Friends may also visit on Sunday, Aug. 28, from 2 to 4 p.m. at Behner Funeral Home, 203 S. Main St., Fairfield.

JoDee was born to Glenn and Ruby King on June 11, 1934, in Carroll, Iowa. She was the youngest of six children. JoDee married Jerry Ekstrom on Dec. 31, 1950, and lived in Martelle, where they raised four children. JoDee worked for 14 years at Collins Radio, where she met many great friends and had many wonderful memories.

In 1975, JoDee found the love of her life when she met Ralph Roe. She married Ralph on March 22, 1976, and they enjoyed 35 wonderful years together. They had a very deep love for each other, which will be so sorely missed with her passing. In addition, special love goes out to her best friends, Dean and Donna Lane.

Survivors include her husband, Ralph Roe of Fairfield; her four children from her first marriage: Mark (Paula) Ekstrom of Cedar Rapids, Terri Jo (Larry) Erickson of Cedar Rapids, Doug (Kathy) Ekstrom of Oil City, Pa., and Craig Ekstrom of Cedar Rapids. Additionally, with her marriage to Ralph she opened her heart and deeply loved his three children. They are Connie (Frank) Alcantar of Hillsboro, Ore., Tom (Pat) Roe of Cedar Rapids and Michael (Marsha) Roe of Fairfield. Also surviving are her sisters, Glenna Gaylor of McDonough, Ga., Darlene Lauer of Eagle Grove; 14 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, Jerry Ekstrom; a brother, James King; sisters, Dorothy Gustafson and Betty Erickson; and a grandson, Mike Roe Jr.

Our mother's passion in life was to bring joy and happiness to all her children, husband, and to everyone she met. She was truly an angel on earth and shall be in heaven. Rest in peace, and know that all your children and husband will gratefully love and cherish you and your memories forever.

Memorial contributions may be made in JoDee's memory to the Hospice of Good Samaritan Society, 2050 Great Oak Dr., Ottumwa, IA 52501, or The First Baptist Church in Fairfield.