Roseland, Robert 'Rosie'

Robert “Rosie” Roseland, 89, died peacefully in his sleep on Monday, July 8, 2013, at Deerfield Retirement Community in Urbandale. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at McLaren's Chapel in West Des Moines, with entombment at Resthaven Mausoleum. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until service time Tuesday.

Rosie was born June 7, 1924, in Paulina, Iowa, to John and Floy Roseland. He graduated from Clear Lake High School and went to work for Duesenberg Construction helping build the Alaska Highway. When World War II started, he enlisted and trained to be a pilot, flying B-17 bombers over the Himalayas. Following the war, Rosie enrolled at the University of Iowa, where he pledged Beta Theta Pi, completed a degree in business and met the love of his life, Nina Larimore. They were married for 62 years until her death in 2011.

Rosie began his career in sales, working for Ames Concrete Products and joining Cretex Companies Inc. In 1975, he was promoted to president and general manager of Iowa Concrete Products, a division of Cretex, where he remained until his retirement. During his tenure at Iowa Concrete Products, he was elected president of Iowa's Associated General Contractors (AGC) and to the Iowa Highway Department's Hall of Fame.

Rosie was a loving father and grandfather who was an avid outdoorsman. He was a loyal University of Iowa Hawkeye football fan who rarely missed a game! He enjoyed spending his summers on Lake Vermillion in Northern Minnesota and winters in Palm Desert, Calif.

He is survived by his son, Craig (Cathy) of Minnesota; daughter, Anne (Mike) Thompson of California; two grandchildren, Kate (Mathew) Wachlarowicz and Robert Z. Roseland; and a sister, Patty (Spud) Carrell of California.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Joe and Jack; wife, Nina; and son, Kurt.

The family would like to thank Deerfield Retirement Community for their excellent care of Rosie in his final years.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Deerfield or the International Wolf Center, 1396 Highway 169, Ely, MN 55731.

Published July 14, 2013 in The Gazette