Rohwedder, Hazel G.

Hazel G. Rohwedder, 93, of Wyoming, Iowa, passed away Sunday, Nov. 27, 2011, at Anamosa Care Center in Anamosa. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, at Zion American Lutheran Church, Wyoming, with Pastor Ginger Anderson officiating. Friends may call from 4 to 6 p. m. Tuesday at Lahey Funeral Home in Wyoming. Interment will be in the Wyoming Cemetery, Wyoming, Iowa.

Hazel Guelph Rohwedder was born on June 18, 1918, in Doland, S.D., to Fred and Hazel (Jobert) Levsen. In 1919, when Hazel was nine months old, her mother died of the flu epidemic Difficult times after World War II, the death of her mother and the depression made circumstances too difficult for her father, so Hazel and her sister, Marion, were sent to live with relatives. Hazel came to Wyoming, Iowa, in 1935, before her senior year in high school. It was at Wyoming High School where she met the love of her life, Richard Rohwedder. After high school graduation in 1936, Hazel attended Michael Reese Hospital School of Nursing in Chicago. She graduated September 1939.

Richard and Hazel eloped and were married in Chicago on Feb. 18, 1940. They returned to the family farm outside of Wyoming, Iowa, where they lived until 1972, at which time they built a home in town. Hazel loved the farm and being a farmer's wife. She and Richard loved to play cards with friends and loved to dance, even around the kitchen!

She was a member of the Zion American Lutheran Church in Wyoming, the Mary Rebecca Circle and a past Matron of the Order of Eastern Star. She was also an avid golfer.

Hazel is survived by her children, son, Tom, and his special friend, Margaret Stickley, Wyoming; daughter, Jean (Royce) Schneider, Richmond, Texas;

son-in-law, Lonnie (Shirley) Rogers, Marion; grandchildren, Kim (Jerry) Sorgenfrey, Wyoming, Noelle (Damon) Vaughn, Cedar Rapids, Michelle (Scott) Jackson, Stanwood, Jeff (Stacey) Rogers, Marion, Stephen (Anna) Schneider, The Woodlands, Texas, and Matthew Schneider, Houston, Texas; great-grandchildren, Kayla (Andrew) Buck, Anamosa, Cameron Sorgenfrey, Wyoming, Chris Chester, Glen Ellyn, Ill., Jozie Vaughn, Cedar Rapids, Kori and Kyle Jackson, Stanwood, Emma and Claire Rogers, Marion, and Dean Schneider, The Woodlands, Texas; a great-great-granddaughter, Callie Jo Buck, Anamosa; a sister, Marion Platner, Cedar Rapids, a sister-in-law, Rosalie Rohwedder; and nieces and nephews.

In addition to her husband, Richard, who passed away in 1983, and her parents, Hazel was preceded in death by her daughter, Judith Ann Rogers in 1993; her daughter-in-law, Judy Jo Rohwedder; and great-granddaughter, Lilly Jo Vaughn.

Memorials may be given to Zion American Lutheran Church.

Online condolences may be left for the family at .

Published in The Gazette Nov. 29, 2011.