08/18/2009
Funeral services for Sarah Jane Templeton (Harvey, Roetman) of Knoxville, Iowa who died
August 18, 2009, at Griffin Nursing Center, will be held at 10:30 AM, August 20 at
Celebrate Church in Knoxville.
Visitation will be held at 9:30 AM at the church
preceding the service. Pastor Suzanne Vogel will officiate Following the service,
interment will be at Graceland Cemetery in Knoxville.
Casketbearers will be grandchildren:
Bryce Burger, Matthew Burger, Benjamin Burger, Sarah Burger, Megan McKay Ziller,
Nigel McKay and Aaron McKay Sarah Roetman was born on August 23, 1915, in rural
Marion County, the daughter of Joseph and Mary (Jones) Templeton.
The family lived
in the Dunreath/Red Rock area during her youth. She attended Knoxville High School,
Central College, and received her B.A. from Drake University. Throughout her long
teaching career, she taught in several one-room country schools in the area, in
the Pella school district, and at North Elementary in Knoxville until her retirement.
She was an active volunteer in the Republican Party, serving a term as county co-chairperson.
During her years in the Templeton & Harvey family farm partnership, she also served
in many volunteer roles supporting 4-H, County Extension work, and Farm Bureau work
with her husband Dwight Harvey, who preceded her in death.
In Knoxville and in Eldora
where she resided with her second husband Melvin Roetman, she pursued life with
joy and vigor. She was a member of First United Methodist Church, PEO, D.A.R., and
other interest groups.
She had a quest for learning and enjoyed reading, quilting,
the wonders of nature, mushrooming, hiking, and traveling. Above all, she treasured
her friends and family. She was a good friend to all.
She was preceded in death
by her parents, husband Dwight Harvey, daughter Margaret Ann Visser, husband Melvin
Roetman, two brothers James and Hugh Templeton, and two sisters Ruth Roetman and
Alice Josephine Huygens. She is survived by daughters Celia Harvey Burger (William)
of Gainesville, Florida; Jean Visser McKay of Knoxville, Iowa; Judith Roetman Jackson
(Tom) of Ames, Iowa; Louise Roetman Esveld (Ken)of Pella, Iowa; Margaret Roetman
of Ames, Iowa: and Edward Roetman (Barbara)of Lake Placid, New York; her grandchildren,
Bryce Burger (Tracy), Matthew Burger (Amy), Ben Burger (Susan); Sarah Burger; Megan
McKay Ziller (Scott); Nigel McKay (Sara), Aaron McKay (Laura); Ben Jackson (Natalie),
Edward Jackson (Holly), Peter and Ruth Esveld, (Leslie, Jamie, and Jonathan Roetman),
and her great-grandchildren.
She is also survived by her sisters-in-law Dorothy
Templeton, Freeda West, and Aimee Breuklander, many treasured nieces and nephews,
and other relatives and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice
of Central Iowa, First United Methodist Church, or the Knoxville Public Library.