Obituaries

Ella Mae Rothfus, 90, Woodward, Iowa

Services for Ella Mae Rothfus, 90, Woodward, Iowa will be Thursday, November 21, 2019. Visitation with the family receiving friends will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Murdock Funeral Home. At 7:00 p.m. a prayer service will be held following the visitation. Ella Mae passed away Friday, November 15, 2019 at Mercy One Des Moines Medical Center.

Ella Mae Rothfus was born, the youngest of sixteen children, September 13, 1929 the daughter of John Samuel and Ella May (Greenawalt) Moore in Guthrie County, Iowa. She graduated from Yale High School. She moved to Woodward, IA after graduation and met Verne Rothfus at Lake Robbins Ballroom. They married October 19, 1951 in Blaire, NE. Together, they raised three children, Terry, Catherine and Jeffrey on a farm outside of Woodward. Her years as a farmer’s wife included partnering with Verne to raise the children, taking endless trips to the grain elevator during harvest, supplying many lunches and dinners to the fields, and raising livestock. When away from the farm work, Verne and Ella Mae enjoyed trips to Las Vegas, listening to music at Lake Robbins, and spending time with family.

Ella Mae is survived by her children, Terry (Celestine) Rothfus of Woodward, IA; Catherine (Marlene) Radebaugh of Rippey, IA; Jeffrey Rothfus (Karen Phinney) of DeSoto, KS; grandchildren Douglas (Melissa) Rothfus, Woodward, IA; Caryn (Matthew) Brown, Grimes, IA; Kyle Rothfus, Waterloo, IA; Kody Rothfus, Lawrence, KS; Brandon (Andrea) Walker, Independence, Mo; TJ Phinney, DeSoto, KS and Sierra (Mitch) O’Neal, Spring, TX; great grandchildren Matthew (Paylyn), Braydon, Isabella, Emalee, Haylee, Savannah, and Rohan along with several nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her parents, husband on April 10, 2002, fifteen brothers and sisters.

Memorials may be designated in Ella Mae’s name to the Woodward Fire Department. They may be left or mailed to Murdock Funeral Home.