Obituary for Richard L. Roszell

Richard L. Roszell, age 76, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on January 3, 2024, after a courageous 3 1⁄2- year battle with lung cancer. A private service with a celebration of life will be held at a later date. 

Richard (Rick), son of Mabel J. Clark and Nile C. Roszell was born on November 11, 1947, in Iowa City, Iowa. He graduated from West Branch High school. Rick honorably served his country during the Vietnam War as a Corporal Gunner with the United States Army. He was 1 of only 13 to return home from his battalion of 56. 

In November of 1969 Rick married Sandra Luettjohann, and they celebrated the birth of two children, their daughter, Kim and son, Ryan. 

Early in Rick’s career he helped manage the family farm and worked for Procter and Gamble. Rick spent the majority of his career as a successful business owner of several local floor-covering companies. His first company was Fashion Way Carpets and Vinyl in Tipton, IA and his longest standing company was Carriage House Carpets in Muscatine, IA which he sold in 2005 and subsequently retired. 

While running Carriage House Carpets, Rick met a neighboring restaurant owner, Haydee Pena Gongora. They would ultimately be united in marriage in July of 1996. Rick and Haydee loved to travel together and had many adventures, but their favorite place was at their home on the banks of the Mississippi River in New Boston, IL. where they enjoyed viewing the river flow by and the birds come to visit. 

Rick was an avid outdoorsman and fisherman. If Rick was not tending to his garden, flowers, or many birdhouses, you could find him fishing whether it be 90° or –20 below zero. 

In addition to his wife Haydee, Rick is survived by his two children, Kim (Jim) Lang of Nichols, IA and Ryan (Kelly) Roszell of Hills, IA. A stepdaughter Jessica (Ryan) Dombrowski of Kenosha, WI; seven grandchildren; Cody Martin, Alexis Martin, Nevaeh Trimble Roszell, Ava Garcia VanAuken, Elena Garcia VanAuken, Elle Dombrowski and Colton Dombrowski; one great-grandchild; Kalib Williams; four sisters; Kris (Ken) Hubler, OR, Jo Moreira Da Silva, FL, Lynette Conrad, West Branch, IA, Sue (Rick) Maurer, West Liberty, IA and one brother; Nile (Karen) Roszell, TX.  Rick was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Donna (Ken) Irvin, Atalissa, IA. 

As we celebrate Rick’s life, he’d remind us to “Stop and smell the roses