Louise Roalson

LOUISE ROALSON

Cedar Rapids

Louise Roalson, 97, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Monday, Dec. 20, 2021, at her home. A private funeral service will be held at Cedar Memorial Chapel prior to her burial next to her husband, John.

Louise Gayle Johnston was born Dec. 10, 1924, in Montezuma, Iowa, to Walter and Lola Johnston. Louise graduated from Marshalltown High School in 1942 and studied one year at Marshalltown Junior College before transferring to the University of Iowa, where she met her future husband, John S. Roalson. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. in journalism in 1946. She and John married on July 20, 1947.

Louise worked for the Cedar Rapids Gazette, where she was a reporter until she bore her first child in 1950. She happily gave up her career to raise three boys, Eric, Brad and Craig. She and John enthusiastically supported their kids' many activities and spearheaded their discoveries through various family vacations.

She took dance classes for over five decades and supported the arts throughout her lifetime. An ardent reader and wordsmith, Louise eventually took up professional proof reading at Frank Magid Associates and the Penfield Press. Ultimately she would write an award-winning cookbook, "Notably Norwegian," as well as "On Iowa," a collection of recipes and anecdotes from well-known University of Iowa personalities.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, John, in 1992.

Left to cherish her memories are her three sons, Eric of Iowa City, Brad (and Teri Technik Roalson) of Cedar Rapids; and Craig (and Karen Schulte Roalson) also of Cedar Rapids. Other survivors are grandsons, Ben, Jake, Jeff (married to Brooke Kilstrom Roalson) and Dan (married to Emily Kipper Roalson) and one great-granddaughter, Eleanor Claire.

In lieu of flowers, the family has respectfully requested that any memorial contribution be made to the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art or a local charity promoting arts and education.