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Harold E. Rolston, of Redfield passed away March 17, 2024 at his home. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. Sunday, March 24, 2024 at the Johnson Family Funeral Home & Crematory - Stuart Chapel. Funeral services will be held 10:30 A.M. Monday, March 25, 2024 at the Redfield United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in East Linn Cemetery in rural Redfield where full military honors will be rendered.. After services, there will be a luncheon at the American Legion in Redfield Iowa.
Harold E Rolston, Age 86 of Redfield Iowa passed away Sunday, March 17th, 2024. Harold was a graduate of Redfield High School, Iowa State University, and served honorably for four years in the United States Navy. At 17 Harold enlisted in the Navy, where he attended the Naval Air Station Pensacola Flight School. Harold loved to tell stories of his time flying in the Navy as well as adventures taking professional boxing matches under an assumed name during his off-duty hours. In 1957 he was transferred to Naval Air Station Atlantic City, where is future made a dramatic change. One of Harolds friends set him up on a blind date with Mary Olive Bowen, who initially refused to leave the house because of Harolds black and white patent leather shoes were not to her liking. With some provoking from her mother, Dorothy Bowen, Mary was convinced to go on this blind date. Harold & Mary Rolston were married on August 23rd, 1958, and remained married for the next 65 years, having four children, Stephen Daniel, James Clark, Laura Marie, and Richard Alton Rolston. After his time in the Navy Harold attended Iowa State University, worked as a sales representative and sales manager at a dairy, and managed a fertilizer plant in Manchester, Iowa. In 1970, Harold & Mary moved to Redfield, Iowa and took over running the family farm for his father, Carl Rolston. Harold remained a farmer the rest of his life. During the 1970’s & 80’s, Harold expanded the farm and livestock operation to include quarter horses, which were one of his passions. At one point the Rolston Farm had over 300 quarter horses, including a stallion that sired several world champions show horses. One of Harolds other passions was playing practical jokes and pranks, including wearing a wig and dressing as his wife to drive his kids around on Halloween, starting food fights at restaurants and blaming his kids, reporting to the local paper that his fields were yielding 300 bushels of corn per acre (they weren’t), telling people he had a child named Charlie (he didn’t), spinning yarns about his adventurers traveling west on a covered wagon (he didn’t), and convincing his children they were 100% Sicilian, which they weren’t.
Harold is preceded in death by his parents, Susie & Carl Rolston, stepmother Mary F Rolston, and sisters Freda Pannetier and Elaine Rohrer.
Harold is survived by his spouse, Mary O. Rolston, children Stephen Rolston, Laura Rolston, James (Kris) Rolston and Richard (Kristen) Rolston, Grandaughter Jennifer Hernandez and great grandchildren Tyler Rolston, Christabel Rolston, Diego Saldana, Cataleya Hernandez and Mateo Hernandez.
To send flowers in memory of Harold E. Rolston, visit the Tribute Store.
24
Mar
123 N.E. 2nd St
Stuart,, IA 50250
25
Mar
715 Jefferson
Redfield, IA 50233
Burial will follow in East Linn Cemetery
Rural Redfield
Redfield, IA 50233
Johnson Family Funeral Home & Cremation Services
Stuart Chapel • 123 Northeast Secon Street, Stuart, IA 50250 • Phone: (515) 523-1200
Dexter Chapel • 814 Wash Ave. Box 57, Dexter, IA 50070 • Phone: (515) 789-4621
Earlham Chapel • 140 NW 2nd Street, Earlham, IA 50072 • Phone: (515) 758-2500
Redfield Chapel • 902 1st Street Box 404, Redfield, IA • Phone (515) 789-4621
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