Boone, Iowa—Jeanette O’Rourke, age 87, of Boone, passed away peacefully on Monday, May 29, 2023, at home in Boone.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 P.M. Friday, June 2, 2023 at the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel, 1006 6th Street, in Boone, with a Rosary at 5:45 P.M. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10:30 A.M., Saturday, June 3, 2023, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 915 12th Street, Boone. Inurnment will be in Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery.
Jeanette was born on August 30, 1935, in Ionia, Iowa to Lawrence and Angela (Maiers) Roths. She spent her childhood in Ionia, Iowa and graduated from St. Boniface’s School in 1953. In 1956 she married Harold O’Rourke at St. Boniface’s Church in Ionia, IA to whom six beautiful children were born.
Jeanette spent her lifetime caring for her family and working as a CNA at St. Joseph’s Hospital in her early years and then at Farmland in Carroll, IA until her retirement in 2001. Her greatest joy was raising her children and watching her grandchildren grow up. Her hands were never still; from raising her children and spoiling her grandchildren. Along with being faithful to attending daily mass and saying the rosary she liked cooking, caring for her flowers, playing cards, attending family gatherings, and catching up with old Farmland friends. She was a member of the Sacred Heart Altar Society and VFW Auxiliary Board.
Jeanette is survived by her five children and their families; Dan O’Rourke of Ames, IA, Kevin O’Rourke of Schaller, IA, Clare O’Rourke (Joni) of Slater, IA , Theresa O’Rourke of Boone, IA and Maria O’Rourke (Brian Lemker) of West Des Moines, IA; eight grandchildren, Pat O’Rourke (Caroline) of Clinton, MO, Stephanie Jones (Ross) of Tonganoxie, KS, Eric Bernholtz of Fort Collins, CO, Nichole O’Rourke of Boone, IA, Alyssa Teig (Dustin) of Elkhart, IA, Zachery Ely (Elizabeth Laube) of Boone, IA and Tyler O’Rourke of Schaller, IA, Elise Nelson (Kurt) of Beaverdale, IA; great-grandchildren, Piper, Colby, Timber, Easton and Maren; sisters, Shirley Carolan of Decorah, IA and Clare Robertson (Ron) of Waterloo; sister-in-law, Pearle Roths of Mesa, AZ and many nieces and nephews.
Jeanette was preceded in death by her parents, Lawrence and Angela Roths; her husband, Harold in 2002 and infant son, Patrick in 1966; brother, Lawrence Roths; sister-in-law, Maxine Lynch; brothers-in-law, Jim Carolan and Robert Lynch; and a grandson, Jared Ely
We wish to express our gratitude to the staff at Home Instead, Suncrest Hospice and Father Tim, you were all such a blessing to her. The family of Jeanette O’Rourke.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Schroeder-Reimers Memorial Chapel at Sixth and Marshall Streets in Boone. Online condolences may be left to Jeanette’s family at www.schroedermemorialchapel.com.
