Wilma Rolston

Wilma (Wil) Rolston passed away at 1:35 AM on Sunday, April 29th at the Iowa Veterans Home Memory Care Facility in Marshalltown, one week after celebrating her 94th birthday. Her son, Patrick, and daughter-in-law, Narmin, were at her side as she died peacefully in her sleep as a result of no known causes other than old age.   Wil was born in Conrad, Iowa on April 23rd, 1924 and raised on a small farm near town by John and Minnie Koehler, who taught her to love the land and keep a smile in the face of difficult times. She fondly reminisced about being barefoot as a little girl in the farm home yard with cool grass underfoot and her book in hand. She loved to read in that lawn under a shade tree and then ride her blind pony, Toots, who she shared with her little sister Marilyn—a retired artist currently living in Half Moon Bay, California. Listening to the family radio in the evenings, Wil discovered classical music and forever fell in love with Rachmaninov, Haydn, and Beethoven. She also discovered a hand-me-down trombone in middle school and took up playing with the Conrad band, resulting in the opportunity to visit New York City by train. That trip and her days playing with the band throughout high school resulted in some of her fondest memories. Her next love was Jack Rolston, who she met in Marshalltown, Iowa while working in administration at Fisher Governor leading up to WWII.  Wil married Jack in the fall of 1947—­her favorite time of the year—and they drove to Niagara Falls, NY for their honeymoon. She had her only child, John Patrick, January 25th,1954, and the family ultimately settled in Iowa City, where Wil raised the family. She was a loving and devoted mother and wife in the image of the 1950s. Her proper upbringing and German heritage kept the house in order in light of her very fun-loving husband, free range beagle, and child. There was always lots of laughter in the house, and Wil had her classical music playing while she kept a semblance of order. Besides the family, she most enjoyed her time out back of the house on Lee Street in Iowa City gardening and being with nature. This was her spiritual retreat as well and marked her invocation of the Lord being in all things.   The Iowa Hawkeye football weekends and lots of family friends in the house were also one of her great joys in life. She always remembered Pat's friends—who were regulars on Lee Street—as Jack always entertained the lads before and after Hawkeye events. Even in the face of what some might call over-exuberance and others would term small riots, Wil maintained a calm bemusement. When everyone departed, bemusement turned to bewilderment, as she would ask Jack, "How will young men ever graduate from the University of Iowa, or anywhere?" That too was one of her great satisfactions in life, as the young men did indeed graduate, were all very successful, and they would stop by to say hello or drop off a gift with some regularity. It meant the world to her and Jack.   After Jack passed away in 1995, she got to be part of the life of her grandson, Nicholas, upon moving to Minneapolis to live near Pat and Narmin. Nicholas was her greatest pride and joy as he grew up and in so many ways served as the ideal grandson. When in the eighth grade, he wrote a poem she loved dearly and requested be read at her passing. Wil so appreciated education and the continuation of learning through good books—it was a blessing to her that Nicholas chose to pursue his PhD at Stanford in Applied Physics. She never ceased to inquire and comment on Nick, even with her memory fading in her last five years.  As aforementioned, Wil found joy in nature and gardening, classical music, reading, and being with her family laughing while listening to stories. She always was content to be the caregiver, listener, and provider of comfort while reflecting on life in calm peace. She will forever be remembered by her calm, stoic optimism in the face of good times and bad, much like other parents of the Greatest Generation. She always said the best things in life are free: a sunset, laughter, nature's glory, and the love of friends and family. The following was that poem by Nicholas she wanted read at her passing:  The Void   Ever wonder what does lie beyond the looking glass dubbed as our sky? Is there more than what meets the eye? I ponder whimsically on this nigh' The expression I show is philosophical yet wry, bothered by an eternally debatable question; why. Are other life forms out there, too advanced for us to comprehend, and quite shy? Or so utterly simple not to understand what it is to die? These questions rack my brain; and I can only sigh. Even the most complex astronomical machines can only begin to pry at the wonders in our universe, ever so sly. My best attempts at finding out more all just a pathetic try, But this doesn't bother me; oh I can only break down and cry. Yet the tears streaming down my face bring a sensational high. God has blessed us all, I will live life to its fullest until the day that I die. Until the day that I die. In lieu of flowers, memorial contribtions may be directed to the Honors Program.  Here is the website: https://honors.uiowa.edu/ Go to GIVE and you may designate a memorial gift option in the name of Wil Rolston as you wish.