Orman Thomas Rouse “Tom,” aged 91, of State Center, passed away peacefully on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025, at the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 6, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church (422 4th Street) in Colo, with Father Richmond Dzekoe officiating. Visitation will be at the church beginning at 9 a.m. Following the service, the burial with military honors will take place at Murphy Cemetery in rural Nevada.
Tom was born Dec. 7, 1933, in Hopkinton the beloved son of Chester Whipple and Florence (Gerlich) Rouse. He graduated from Clarence High School in 1951 and was united in marriage to Ramona Mae Nelson on Sept. 12, 1953, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Lisbon,. Tom enlisted in the United States Army serving from Aug. 3, 1955, until his honorable discharge on May 31, 1957. He graduated in 1964 from Iowa State University with a degree in engineering which led him to a career at the Iowa DOT as a Right-of-
Way Agent.
Tom and Ramona lived in Colo, Oxford Junction, Princeton, Mo., and State Center. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Colo American Legion and AAA (Area Agencies on Aging) serving as past president. Tom enjoyed playing card games including rummy, pitch, cribbage, solitaire and kings corner. He was proud to teach his grandkids and great grandkids how to play cards and everything that went along with it. Tom also enjoyed farming in northern Missouri, attending cattle sales and driving the Amish folks where they needed to go. He loved to be able to support his grandchildren and great-grandchildren in all their activities.
He is survived by his loving children: Mary Kathleen (Lonny) Flack of Nevada; Ellen Kristine (Jack) Moel of Lisbon; and Thomas (Jeanette) Rouse of Springfield, Mo. He was a proud grandfather to six grandchildren, ten great-grandchildren and recently 2 great great-grandbabies. He is also survived by his sister Gladys (Rouse) Whipple Hurtis. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, his cherished wife Ramona Mae Rouse in 2019; two grandsons: Carl Jason Stromberg and Bradley Christopher Flack; and his siblings: Chester Rouse, Anne (Rouse) Goldsmith Fetz, Mary (Rouse) Brinkman, Betty (Rouse) Christopherson, Ray Rouse, John Rouse, Mike Rouse and Jeanne (Rouse) Maher.
Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Catholic Church or Unity Point Hospice in memory of Tom.
Arrangements are being handled by Rasmusson-Ryan Funeral Home in Nevada. Condolences may be shared with the family online at www.rasmussonfh.com.