Michele Rolph, 75, passed away Sept. 1 in Charles City, surrounded by family and friends.
A graveside service will take place at 10 a.m. Sept. 7 at Riverside Cemetery in Charles City. A reception with refreshments and sharing of memories will follow at the social hall at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.
Michele Ann Knowlton was born June 11, 1949 in Charles City, Iowa to Myrtle Agnes Ryan and Clifford Bernice Knowlton. She grew up in Colwell and Charles City, graduating from Immaculate Conception High School in 1967. Born prematurely, her sister Kay often recalled she was so small that she fit in a shoebox.
Michele married Jack Alan Rolph on July 15, 1978 on the hottest day of the summer with broken air conditioning at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Charles City. Their only child, Jessie Ann-Nicole, was born two years later with a hyphenated middle name because they couldn’t leave the hospital until they could agree on one.
Michele graduated from Hamilton Business College in Mason City, specializing in key punch. She went on to work for Banco and Pearson, but shined the most in places where she could engage with others. After moving with her family to Cedar Falls in the 1980s, she put her gifts to work running an in-home child care center, selling Avon, managing Bagels and More, and working as a cafeteria cashier at Allen Memorial Hospital. Michele and Jack returned to Charles City in 2012.
Her skill for brightening others’ days was evident through her wide smile and by dotting easy conversations with trademark phrases like “slow down, Parnelli,” “goodness gracious, Agnes Amelia,” and especially for her grandchildren, “love you more…love you mostiest toastiest.” She was an extra mother to many, including her daycare kids, coworkers, Jessie’s friends and more.
Michele also loved connecting with animals, from pets like Petey the Pigeon as a kid to Rolph’s Rowdy O’Ryan, her beloved golden retriever. She was especially fond of wildlife, often naming backyard squirrels, and had a strong affinity for river otters and raccoons. This also included cartoon animals, specifically Snoopy.
Neil Diamond, Roy Orbison, Pepsi in a can with a bendable straw, her Irish heritage, Hawkeye sports, and following her family’s activities and achievements were hallmarks of joy in her life.
She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Mike and Madeline Knowlton of Charles City; and daughter and son-in-law Jessie and Mike Brown, and grandchildren Logan Nicole and Ethan Michael Brown, all of Altoona. She is also survived by many special nieces, nephews, in-laws and friends.
Michele was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, sisters Kay Horgan and Manan Rowe, and brothers-in-law Jerry Horgan and Dennis Rolph.
Memorials may be made to the family.
Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, 1205 South Main Street, Charles City, Iowa 50616 is in charge of local arrangements. Online condolences may be left on the Tribute Wall for the family at www.hauserfh.com.
