Richard William Roder

Dick Roder of Remsen, Iowa, died Friday, December 13, 2024, at Happy Siesta Healthcare Center in Remsen, with his beloved wife, Mary, at his side. He was 89 years old.

Mass of Christian Burial for Dick and his wife Mary, will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 23, 2024, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Remsen, Iowa, with Rev. Timothy Pick presiding and Deacon Doug Heeren assisting. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery in Remsen. Military honors will be conducted by American Legion Post 220 and V.F.W. Post 3328 of Remsen. Visitation with family present will be 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, there will be a K of C / COF rosary and vigil prayer service at 5 p.m. all at Fisch Funeral Home & Monument in Remsen. Visitation will resume Monday morning at the funeral home from 9:30 to 10:15. There will be a live-stream of the vigil prayer service and funeral at www.fischfh.com

Richard William Roder was born October 30, 1935, in rural Remsen to Al and Sylvia (Klein) Roder. He was baptized at St. Mary’s Church in Remsen and graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1953. He worked as a farmhand before serving in the United States Army as a Military Policeman in Korea. 

Dick married Mary Frances Stoffel on November 9, 1957, at Mary’s home parish of St. Catherine’s in Oyens. They raised their family in St. Mary’s Parish in Remsen. Dick served as a Parish Director, Director of the Diocesan Annual Appeal, Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, St. Mary’s School Board, CCD catechist, Oktoberfest Men’s Choir, reader at Mass, and extraordinary minister of Holy Communion.

Over the course of 40 years, Dick farmed northwest of Remsen for 30 years and was a Pioneer Seed Corn salesman for 30 years. He relished his work, but even more so the relationships that came with it.

Dick served surrounding communities as a board member of the Life Skills Training Center in Le Mars and working for the Agricultural Stabilization Committee. He was also a co-chairman of volunteers for the Meals on Wheels Program for the elderly and homebound in Remsen.

Dick and Mary retired to a new home in Remsen in 2003, where they celebrated nearly 20 years of retirement entertaining family and friends, playing cards, golfing, sitting on the deck, and taking long walks. Dick particularly enjoyed fishing trips with his brothers, cooking and baking, woodworking, gardening and canning, blowing snow barefoot, manicuring his yard, and spending time with family and friends. He was a dedicated son of God, husband, father, grandfather and friend. He most certainly had the “gift of gab,” engaging pretty much everyone he encountered with a good conversation. He loved his wife, family, and friends dearly.

In the autumn of their life together, Dick and Mary were honored to be residents of the Bavarian Meadows, Happy Siesta, and Heartland homes, and to be cared for by Floyd Valley Healthcare, MercyOne Medical Center, and St. Croix Hospice. They have greatly appreciated all who have cared for them in their need, most especially their own children from far and near.

Dick is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mary of Remsen, and their offspring; Ann (Mark) Fox of Colwich, Kansas; Deacon Rick (Wendy) of Remsen; Dean (Ellen) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Glenn (Amy) of Remsen; Brian (Kate) of Kansas City, Missouri; Bradley of Lenexa, Kansas; and Michelle Roder (Joe Halaiko) of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; 25 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; brothers-in-law Dennis Schemmel and Robert (Sharon) Stoffel; sisters-in-law Helen Roder, Betty Roder, and Margaret (George) Landgraf.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers Gerald, Jim, and Paul Roder; sisters Janice Klein and Karen Schemmel; father- and mother-in-law Alex and Mary Stoffel; brothers-in-law Lloyd Roeder, Merlyn Klein, and Earl Stoffel; sisters-in-law Lois Stoffel, Sister Joan Stoffel and Clarice Roder; niece Julie Roder and nephew Michael Roder. He kept a bulletin board of many other beloved departed in his garage, most especially the Roders’ longtime family friend, Father Paul Eisele.

Pall bearers are Alex Fox, Will Roder, Noah Roder, Nathan Roder, Mitchell Roder, Charlie Roder, Paice Roder, and Jacob Halaiko.

In memory of Dick, Mary and family would greatly appreciate Masses for the living and deceased of the Dick and Mary Roder family. Other memorial funds will be distributed to causes dear to Dick and Mary at a later date.