Ione Roeker

Ione O. Roeker, age 87 of rural Waldorf, died on Wednesday, July 4, 2012 at the Janesville Nursing Home.             Funeral services will be held on Monday, July 9th at 11:00 A.M. at First Lutheran Church in Waldorf with Rev. Michael Mathews, officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery.             Visitation will be held on Sunday from 2 to 5 P.M. at Arnoldt-McRaith Funeral Home & Crematory in Janesville, and will continue on Monday morning for one hour prior to services, at church.  Ione Ordell was born July 30, 1924 in near Gibbon, Minnesota (Sibley County) to Harry and Ellen (Whim) Olson. Ione attended Gibbon Schools. On August 26, 1942 she was united in marriage to Martin C. Roeker at Clear Lake Lutheran Church, rural Gibbon. Ione and Martin raised their family and resided on their Freedom Township farm in Waseca County their entire married life. Later in her life she enjoyed working for Patty (Fox) Schuch at The Casual Clothing Store in Waseca. Following her husband's death in 1982 Ione had continued to reside on the farm until this last October. Ione was a longtime member of First Lutheran Church in Waldorf and its Ladies Aid. She was also active in many organizations including, Waseca County Extension, Waldorf Senior Citizens, and the Red Hatters of Waldorf. Ione enjoyed gardening, dancing and travelling with her husband, including their many fishing and hunting excursions. She was very witty, proud of her Swedish heritage, and being a "farmer's wife". Ione most enjoyed time spent with all her family. She is survived by her children, Garry Roeker (special friend Betty Latzke) of Sherburn, Cheryl Roeker of Minneapolis, Oren "Marty" (Alice) Roeker of Minnesota Lake, and Kevin (Patty) Roeker of Janesville; by 11 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren; by her sister, Elaine Berg of Shakopee, and sister-in-law, Marie Roeker of Owatonna; by many close friends, especially Harriet Fox of Janesville. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Martin in 1982, and her brother Arlo Olson.