Esther Rothfus

Frances Esther Leaf Rothfus passed away on February 13, 2013, at the age of 95 full years. Her death ended a short hospital stay in Des Moines following a heart attack. Services will be held at 1 PM at Peterson Funeral Home in Carlisle, Iowa, on Monday, February 18, 2013, with burial following at Avon Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday from 2 to 4, also at the funeral home.
Frances was born September 22, 1917, in Ames, Iowa, to John and Mellie Leaf. She spent her early childhood in Des Moines following the death of her father in 1919. In 1930 her family moved to a farm near Ankeny where she lived until she graduated from Ankeny High School in 1935. Much time was also spent over the years with beloved family and friends in the area of Stratford, Iowa.
After high school Frances returned to Des Moines to seek employment. Her first job was as a housekeeper and nanny for a five year-old boy. Further employment included Barbara's Bake Shop and Charles Hewitt Wholesale Grocers until her marriage to Max Rothfus in 1945.
Max and Frances made their home on the farm near Carlisle where Max had been raised. They had two sons, Donald and Gerald. Frances later returned to her cake decorating, working at Dahl's, Van's, and Mauger's bakeries.
Frances was active in the Avon Community Church serving as a teacher in Sunday School and Bible School, as Sunday School superintendent, as church board member, in choir and in ladies aid.
She was preceded in death by her infant brother Wilbur, her mother and father, her sister Wilma Mitchell, and her beloved husband Max after 61 years of marriage.
She leaves to mourn her passing sons Donald (Linda) and Gerald (Vicky); grandsons Aric, Frederic (Angela), Benjamin, Jonathan(Paige), and Jesse Rothfus; granddaughters Rebecca Olson (Dave), Noelle, Karissa, and Hannah Rothfus; great-grandchildren Madison, Brenten, and Janalyn Olson and Christian, Joel, and Natalie Rothfus; brother-in-law Bill Mitchell and niece Mary Irons (Bill). Online condolences may be made at www.petersonfuneralservice.com