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Roach, Matthew 'Mick'
Matthew “Mick” Roach, 81, died Monday, Nov. 8, 2010, at his home in West Union following a brief illness. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 12, at Holy Name Catholic Church, West Union, by the Rev. Dale Rausch. Interment will follow the services at Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery, rural West Union. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. today, with a Scripture service at 6:30 p.m., at Burnham-Wood Funeral Home in West Union.
He was born Dec. 26, 1928, in West Union, Iowa, the son of Joseph and Julia (Houlahan) Roach. On April 11, 1953, he was united into marriage to Mary Ann Lockwood in Fayette, Iowa and this year they celebrated 57 years of marriage. To this union four children were born. After graduating from West Union High School in 1946, Mick went on to earn a business degree from Loras College in Dubuque in 1951. For a number of years, he worked as a sales representative for the National Biscuit Co., now known as Nabisco. Later, Mick worked for Dessel's in West Union until starting Dessel Roach Floor Covering in 1979.
Mick was very active in the community of West Union, serving as president of the Chamber of Commerce, a member of the Holy Name Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus, West Union Volunteer Fire Department, West Union City Council, and, in his free time, coaching Little League. Moreover, he was seen as a very devoted family man.
Mick is survived by his wife, Mary Ann; two daughters, Colleen (Dwight) Ohrt and Barbara Van Horn, both of West Union; two sons, Stephen Roach and Michael (Judy) Roach, both of West Union; four grandsons, Wade Crowe of West Union, Matthew Crowe of Ames, Andrew Roach of Cedar Falls and Eric Van Horn of West Union; two granddaughters, Kathryn Roach of Cedar Falls and Monica Van Horn of Ames; and two sisters, Catherine Dessel of West Union and Elizabeth (Lane) Ash of Elgin.
Mick was preceded in death by his parents; six brothers, John Roach, Joseph Roach, Monsignor William Roach, Tom Roach, Mark Roach and Patrick Roach; and three sisters, Mary Knight, Ruth Roach and Eileen Bily.
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