Rosella Westendorf, daughter of Dick and Florence Folkers Buss, was born June 24, 1937, at Hampton, Iowa. She graduated from Hampton High School in 1955, and attended Ellsworth Junior College in Iowa Falls for one year.
On January 10, 1960, she was united in marriage with Marvin Westendorf at St. John’s United Church of Christ-Siegel of rural Waverly. She was baptized at St. John’s at the time of her marriage. Rosella worked for many years in the garden center and as a cashier at Wal-Mart in Waverly.
A resident of the Tripoli Nursing Home, Rosella’s death occurred there on Saturday, August 20, 2011, following a lengthy illness and complications of Multiple Sclerosis. She was seventy-four years old and a longtime member of St. John’s United Church of Christ-Siegel. She enjoyed gardening, flowers, animals, and reading.
In addition to her husband, Marvin of rural Waverly, she is survived by four children, Michael (Kathy) Westendorf of rural Waverly, Michelle (Craig) Vogt of Tripoli, Melissa (Brian) Pawlak of South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Melody (Dan) Wright of LeClaire, Iowa; twelve grandchildren; and five half sisters, Vera, Dixie, Sally, Linda, and Kathy
Rosella was preceded in death by her parents; her stepmother, Kathleen; five brothers, Floyd, Grant, Donald, Harry, and Clarence; and two sisters, Tillie, and a sister who died in infancy.
Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, August 24, 2011, at St. John’s United Church of Christ-Siegel of rural Waverly, with Rev. Eugene Walther officiating. Inurnment will follow at the Church Cemetery. Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, August 23, 2011, at Rettig Funeral Home in Tripoli and for one hour before services at the church on Wednesday. In lieu of flowers the family suggests that friends may, if they wish, make memorial donations in Rosella’s name to the Tripoli Nursing Home.
