Lillian Rolfes

Wednesday, July 6, 2016 4:08 pm

Lillian Rolfes, 90, of Calmar, died Saturday, July 2, 2016, at the Ossian Senior Hospice in Ossian. Mass of Christian Burial was at 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 8, at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Calmar, with Rev. Robert Gross and Deacon Andrew Marr officiating. Lector was Kevin Rolfes. Gift bearers were Mary Welch and Annette Evenson. Organist was Jeanette Dietzenbach. Prelude music was “Danny Boy” and “In the Garden.” Soloist was Dan Silhacek. Hymns sung by the  St. Aloysius Choir were “Be Not Afraid,” “Softly and Tenderly,” “On Eagles Wings,” “Goin Home” and “How Great Thou Art.” Interment was at St. Aloysius Catholic Cemetery, Calmar. Arrangements were handled by Schluter – Balik Funeral Home, French Chapel, Calmar.
Lillian Mary (Stika) Rolfes was born April 6, 1926, to Frank and Mary (Sindelar) Stika, on the family farm near Protivin. Lillian attended parochial school in Protivin. She left school to help on the family farm.

While at a dance in Lawler, Lillian met Art Rolfes and they were married Oct. 2, 1950, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Protivin. Lillian and Art lived in Peoria, Ill. for a short time while Art finished watch making school.
They then lived at Pocahontas for two years, where Art worked as an apprentice for a jeweler and Lillian worked taking care of an elderly lady. In 1952, Lillian and Art moved to Calmar, where Art opened his jewelry store. Lillian worked at Bucheit Produce, as a nurses-aid at the Ossian Senior Hospice and also as an in-home healthcare worker. Lillian was a member of the Rosary Society at St. Aloysius Catholic Church, assistant Brownie leader, Jr. Auxiliary leader for several years and a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.

Lillian and Art enjoyed trips to Texas, South Dakota, Branson, Mo., Michigan, Yellowstone Park and New York City. Lillian’s joys in life were polka music, cooking and baking kolaches, politics, crossword puzzles, reading, making “handmade” greeting cards, playing “Upwords” and writing letters.
Lillian is survived by her three children: Mary (Tom) Welch, Calmar; Annette (Scott) Evenson, Harmony, Minn., and David Rolfes, Calmar; two grandchildren, Carey (Tom Phillips) Welch, Dubuque and Matthew Welch, Dubuque; one great-granddaughter. Simone Phillips, Dubuque.  

Lillian was preceded in death by her parents, Frank and Mary (Sindelar) Stika; her husband, Arthur Rolfes, March 2, 2004; five sisters: Emma (Jim) Pecinovsky, Elizabeth (Tony) Marhoul, Helen (Bill) Pecinovsky, Edith (Jim Vsetecka) (Carol) Loberg and Cecilia (Elmer) Rolfes; one brother, Edward Stika; sisters- and brothers-in-law: John and Christina Rolfes, Leo and Emma Rolfes, Mildred and Harold Quirk, Victoria and Oswald Kout and Marie and Phil Van Houten.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the special care that Lillian received from the staff at the Ossian Senior Hospice, Winneshiek County Hospice and Dr. Anthony Coppola.