Alice Margaret Roete, 98, of Oelwein, Iowa passed away peacefully with her family at her side at MercyOne Senior Care in Oelwein on Friday August 26, 2022. Visitation will be from 4:00 PM-7:00 PM on Tuesday August 30, 2022 at the Geilenfeld-Buehner Funeral Home in Oelwein with a Rosary Service beginning at 3:30 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:30 AM on Wednesday August 31, 2022 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oelwein with Fr. Ray Atwood officiating. Interment will be in Woodlawn Cemetery at Oelwein. A memorial fund has been established. Cards may be mailed to John Roete at 15032 50th Oelwein, IA 50662.
Alice Kuennen was born in St. Lucas, Iowa on August 21, 1924 to Carl and Frances (Reicks) Kuennen. She was the 4th child of 9 siblings and the oldest daughter.
Alice grew up in St. Lucas, Iowa where she completed her 8th grade education. Frances and Carl moved the family to a farm outside of Maynard, Iowa in 1941. It was there, that Alice met her husband, Joseph Roete. They were married on October 2, 1944 in Oelwein, Iowa and celebrated 61 years before Joseph died on February 12, 2005.
Joe and Alice farmed outside of the Maynard and Westgate area where they raised their seven children. In 2003, they moved to South Lawn Court, and in 2014, Alice moved to Arlington Place and later to MercyOne Senior Care.
Alice was a hardworking and prayerful woman, often saying “we better pray about that”. She was an active part of their grain and dairy operation. Alice loved her husband, her children and her grandchildren and her life on the farm. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, playing cards, baking her famous cinnamon rolls, doing crossword puzzles and canning vegetables from the garden. In her later years, Alice gardened alongside Joe, and they raised the best raspberries and sweet corn.
She belonged to the Rosary Society, was a member of the Sacred Heart Church in Oelwein, and the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Court St. Rita #321.
Alice is survived by her children: Louis (Mary) of Oelwein, IA, John (Christine) of Oelwein, IA, Carol (Kirk) Keyser of Naples, FL, Diane Derheim of Bountiful, UT, Sharon Blaue of Corcoran, MN, Janice (Phil) Harrington of Adel, IA and Roger Roete of Maynard, IA; her 20 grandchildren, 40 great-grandchildren and 3 great, great-grandchildren; Alice’s brother, Urban Kuennen of Fayette, IA; and sister, Agnes Vargason of Oklahoma City, OK; her sister-in-law, Marge Kuennen of Oelwein, IA.
Those who preceded her in death were her parents, Carl and Frances; her husband, Joe; her brothers: Herbert, Adolf, Irenus (Rene) and Luke Kuennen; her sisters: Alvera Hogan and Kathryn (Katie) Vargason; sister-in-laws: Hilda, Alice, JoAnn and Floraine Kuennen; brother-in-laws: William Hogan, LaVerne Vargason and Marion Vargason; and her son-in-law, Stanley Blaue.
A very special thank you to MercyOne Senior Care and the third-floor caregivers, and St. Croix Hospice for their love, compassion, and dedication to our mother and family during this time. We will not forget their kindness and respect these last months.
