David Roelfs

David Roelfs, 74, passed away on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at his rural Ackley, Iowa, home.

A visitation was held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 1, 2022, at Counsell Woodley Funeral Home in Iowa Falls, Iowa.

A graveside committal service was held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 2, at the East Friesland Church Cemetery rural Ackley, Iowa. American Legion Post #252 of Ackley, Iowa provided military honors. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to American Legion Post #252, Ackley, Iowa. Counsell Woodley Funeral Home of Iowa Falls is in charge of arrangements.

David Dean Roelfs was born Sept. 20, 1947, in Eldora, Iowa. He was the only child born to Delmar and Marian (Willems) Roelfs. He grew up on a farm by Ackley and attended community school. David graduated from Ackley-Geneva High School with the Class of 1965.

After graduation, David served in the United States Reserves. He was 2 years active duty on the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt from 1966-1968. David continued his service in the Reserves for the Navy, Air Force and Army, totaling 23 years of service. David attended Ellsworth College, graduating in 1971. He was united in marriage to Marilyn Mehmen on June 18, 1971. They moved to Mankato, Minn., where he finished college at Minnesota State, graduating in 1972. David and Marilyn moved back to Iowa in the Steamboat Rock area. In 1974, they moved to the Rolfs Family Farm south of Ackley.

David passed away at his home on the family farm April 27, 2022. He is survived by his Aunt Vivian Kloetzer, Ackley Iowa; brother-in-law Roland (Norma) Mehmen of Parkersburg, Iowa; sister-in-law Betty Mehmen (Lloyd) of Hastings, Neb.; sister-in-law Judith Mehmen in Aplington, Iowa; sister-in-law Betty Thronson of Ackley, Iowa; sister-in-law Marlene (Wayne) Brouwer of Aplington, Iowa; along with many nieces and nephews, and many other family and friends.

David was preceded in death by his parents, Delmar and Marian Roelfs; wife Marilyn Roelfs; three brothers-in-law: Derold Mehmen, Kenneth Mehmen and David Thronson.

We honor a life that was lived to the full; we honor a spirit, now free. You’ll long be remembered, whenever we say, “Fair winds and following seas”