James Vincent Rosauer

James Vincent Rosauer was born on Sunday, September 13, 1925, in Danbury, Iowa, to Frank and Cecelia (Fitzpatrick) Rosauer. He was the second eldest of five children. Older brother, Thomas (Joe); sister, Frances (Franny); brother, Cecil (Irish) and sister, Lois (Loie). During the depression, they moved from their farm in Danbury to Sioux City, where he attended St. Boniface School through the 8th grade. He was an Alter boy at St Boniface and also loved and played on their sports teams. After graduating from 8th grade he attended and graduated from Trinity High Boys School. One of the school rivalries was Boys Town. Jim was an athlete and Captain and quarterback of the Football team, Captain of the Basketball team and Pitcher of the Baseball team. When World War II broke out he enlisted in the Navy and serviced in the South Pacific, in Guam, New Heberdese , the Sandwich Islands and the Philippines. After the war he returned to Sioux City and became engaged to Alberta McColligan, his sweetheart, and who had written to him all throughout the war years. They were married on May 1, 1947 at St. Boniface church.

They had four children: daughter, Sally, born in 1948 and a year later in 1949, son, James (who passed away a few days after his birth), and son, Daniel in 1952 (all born in Sioux City) and son, Timothy born in CA in 1958.

During WWII, before being commissioned to a naval ship, Jim had been stationed and received training in California and Washington State. Jim always talked about the great weather in both states and at the end of a long very snowy and cold winter in 1952 in Sioux City, Jim moved his family to the west coast. Jim and Alberta drove across the Rockies and made the trip from Sioux City to Glendale, CA, in a Chevy with a four year old daughter, a six week old newborn son and Jim’s youngest sister, Lois. When they reached CA they went to visit his younger brother, Irish, and his family. They had not seen each other in five years and Jim and Alberta decided to stay in CA instead of going on to Washington State. They first lived in Glendale and within a year bought a house on the GI bill and moved to La Cresenta, CA. Within a few years of settling down in California all of Jims’ siblings (accept Joe) and his parents moved to CA.

Jim worked for the US Postal service and in 1957 transferred to Orange County and moved the family to Costa Mesa. In 1958 they were blessed with the birth of their youngest son, Timothy and became active in the growing of the small town. Jim enjoyed golfing and played baseball on the Costa Mesa PO team. Jim and Alberta enjoyed bowling, the beach, camping, picnics, trips to Iowa , playing cards and they went to all of the sports team games of their children and actively supported their church, St. John the Baptist. Jim retired in 1981, and he and Alberta moved to Citrus Heights, CA, within 5 years all of their children and grandchildren had moved to the Sacramento area. During retirement Jim golfed and got a couple of “hole in one” trophies. Over the next 20 years, Jim and Alberta were always traveling in the various trailers and RV’s they owned. They enjoyed trips to Iowa to visit relatives and trips to visit many friends throughout the western and mid USA. They enjoyed trips to Reno and Las Vegas too. When they weren’t traveling they had a big garden and many vegetables, roses and lilacs. They went to every sporting event of their grandchildren and had fun during all the family gatherings to celebrate holidays, birthdays, 1st communions, confirmations, graduations, weddings, visits from family and friends and picnics too. Jim and Alberta were very active in their church, Holy Family in Citrus Heights. They were active with the Holy Articles store, the Church Cleaning ministry, also as Eucharistic Ministers and Jim was also an Usher. In 1997 their children planned a 50th Anniversary party for them in Reno. They had a wonderful 3 day celebration and relatives came from all over the US to help Jim and Alberta celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. Jim and Alberta had 66 years together and Alberta went to heaven in 2013. They were also Aunt and Uncle to 43 nieces and nephews and Godparents to five. Jim was the last of his five siblings to survive. In September of 2015, Jim celebrated his 90th birthday with a celebration with his family and nieces and nephews and friends who came to congratulate and celebrate his great day. Jim lived with and was lovingly taken care of by his youngest son, Tim. Jim was taken to heaven on Sunday, April 24, 2016. He is survived by: daughter, Sally Durante; son, Daniel and Karen daughter-in-law; and son, Timothy; and five grandchildren: Christine Demorest , Bradly Durante, Casey Durante, Sommer Rosauer and James Rosauer and four great- grandchildren:Gabrielle Demorest, Roxanne Demorest, Rory Durante and Evan Rosauer.

He will be loved and greatly missed by all those who loved him. May he rest in peace and let perpetual light shine upon him

Services will be held on May 16, 2016 At Holy Family Catholic Church 10:30 am with burial to follow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery