Obituary of Allen J. Roth

Allen J. Roth, age 80, of 320 East Washington Street, Iowa City died, December 25, 2003, Christmas morning at his home. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, December 28, 2003, at the First Mennonite Church in Iowa City with the Reverend Robert Smith officiating. Burial will be at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Iowa City. Visitation will be from 4 to 8p.m. today at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City. A memorial fund has been established in Allen’s memory. Online condolences may be sent for Allen’s family through our website @www.gayandciha.com. Allen John Roth was born September 24, 1923 in Shickley, Nebraska the son of Daniel and Elsie (Birky) Roth. He moved to Iowa City in 1942. On October 8, 1944, he married Minnie Lavina York here in Iowa City. The couple made their home for over fifty-four years at 2315 East Washington Street. For over twenty-five years, he worked as the head custodian at City High School. Allen and Minnie were very active members of the Bethany Baptist Church, he was a longtime scoutmaster of Boy Scout Troop No. 200 of Iowa City, and Allen enjoyed the outdoors, camping, gardening, and Blue Grass festivals. He always enjoyed playing a good game of chess, even in his later years he was up for the challenge, and he spent many hours volunteering at the senior center. His family includes two daughters, Judy Martin of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Sharon and her husband, Phillip Piper of Angelton, Texas; two sons and their wives, Steven C. Roth Sr. and Lois of Washington, Iowa and Larry Roth and Bonnie of Marion, Iowa; 11 grandchildren, Scott Hardwick, Clint Hardwick, Jill Crews, Marti Davidson, Andy Piper, Dori Lee Reaska, Lisa Reardanz, Steven C. Roth Jr., Tom DeSotel, Lisa Johnson, and Tara Neal; 24 great-grandchildren; sister, Leona Winterlin; 2 brothers and their wives, Merle and Alice Roth of Loveland, CO, and Eldon and Becky Roth of Elk Grove Village, IL; sisters-in-law, Mary Noel of Iowa City, and Ramona Roth of Iowa City; and a brother-in-law, Jim York of Iowa City. She was preceded in death by her parents, wife, Minnie in 1999, granddaughter, Jennifer Hardwick, sister, Viola Wilkens, two brothers, Roy and Ivan Roth, and son-in-law, Frank Martin. Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service of Iowa City is caring for Allen’s family and his services.