Caroline A. (Bartz) Rother

Caroline A. (Bartz) Rother, 77 of Alexander passed away Tuesday, October 2, 2018 at the Clarion Wellness and Rehabilitation Center in Clarion, Iowa.

Funeral services for Caroline Rother will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, October 6, 2018 at Immanuel United Church of Christ, 204 East South Street in Latimer with Pastor Joseph Dunnwald officiating. Burial will take place at Marion Center Cemetery in rural Latimer.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 PM on Friday, October 5, 2018 at Immanuel United Church of Christ in Latimer, and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday.

Memorial contributions can be made to Gateway Hospice, 103 2nd Ave NE, Clarion, Iowa, 50525.

Caroline Ann Rother was born June 13, 1941 to Herman and Margaret (Draves) Bartz in Hampton, Iowa. Caroline graduated from Popejoy High School in 1958, in a class of 15 students. During her high school years, she was active as a cheerleader.

After graduation, Caroline moved to Latimer and began working for Dr. Wirtz and at Elm’s Café, where she met her husband, Jon. The couple were married at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa on December 4, 1960.

In the mid-70s, Caroline attended Hamilton Business College in Mason City, where she studied bookkeeping.

Caroline worked at Koerner-Whipple in Hampton for several years before returning to the farm to help manage the pullet/chicken operation. She later took a job at 65-One Stop in Sheffield, and then Farm Services in Hampton and Coulter before retiring in 2014.

Caroline was passionate in her support of the CAL Community School system. She served on the board of directors of the CAL Community Education Foundation for over 20 years, providing scholarships and meeting funding needs throughout the school. Their capital campaign in the early 2000s funded 100% of the building expansion.

Caroline enjoyed baking and sharing this love with her granddaughters. She often took baked goods to work with her for the morning coffee crew at the elevator. She loved to travel by cruise ship to tropical destinations.

Caroline had a strong Christian faith. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran church in Alden and was a member of Immanuel United Church of Christ in Latimer.

She was preceded in death by her parents Herman and Margaret Bartz, son Murray Lee Rother, and brother William Bartz.

She is survived by her husband Jon Rother, son Curtis Rother (Paula), daughter Suzzanne Strong (Kurt), grandchildren Kendra Brown Haage, Mike Rother, Tori, Becca and Charlie Strong, great-grandchilden Rielyn Honeick, Rowen Haage, Zella and Ruby Rother, and many nieces and nephews.