William Paul Roth

William Paul Roth, The son of John and Ida (Winters) Roth, was born January 28, 1921, at his parents’ home in Audubon, Iowa and died April 21, 2016, at the Audubon County Memorial Hospital in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 95 years, 2 months, and 23 days.
Bill was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Audubon, Iowa. He attended the Audubon Community Schools graduating with the High School Class of 1940. Bill worked at an insulation plant and then worked for Carlson’s Hybrid Seed Corn Company. Bill enlisted in the National Guard on October 1, 1940, and on February 19, 1941, was called to Active Duty. He was a message clerk for HQ 168th Infantry, 34th Red Bull infantry division. Bill was shipped overseas ending up in Northern Africa. During the battle of Kasserine Pass in Tunisia he was captured by the Germans on February 17, 1943. He was transported to Germany where he spent over 26 months as a Prisoner of War. Bill was liberated at Bitterfeld, Germany on April 26, 1945 and transferred to the States where he was honorably discharged on September 20, 1945. He returned to Audubon then moved to Chicago, Illinois where he attended the Industrial Training Institute. Bill worked as an electrician and refrigeration repairman in the Cedar Rapids, Iowa area from 1947 to 1950. He returned to the Audubon area and worked for the Audubon National Guard.
On August 25, 1950, he was united in marriage to Dorothy Jespersen at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. Three children Michael, Lori, and James were born to this union. Bill worked for the National Guard until 1954 when he started working for the Iowa Public Service Company as a gas and electrical serviceman. Bill worked for IPS for over 30 years retiring in 1984. Bill enjoyed being in the outdoors where he golfed and fished. He enjoyed playing cards and spectator sports and was an avid fan of the Audubon Wheelers, and both the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Iowa State Cyclones. Dorothy died December 5, 2006. Bill has continued to live in their home in Audubon.
Bill was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon. He served on the Church Council and the Ushering Team. Bill was a strong supporter of the Audubon community and was very active in the many organizations he belong to which included being on the Audubon County Compensation Board, the Audubon City Board of Adjustments, was a member of Dale Christensen Post No. 4119, V.F.W. and American Legion Post No. 120, Audubon, the Audubon Lions Club, the Audubon County Historical Society, the Audubon County Conservation Club, and was a member of the Audubon Fire Department for over 37 years. For all of his dedication and tireless efforts, Bill was awarded the Audubon Community Citizen Award in 2014.
Preceding him in death were his wife Dorothy Roth; his daughter Lori Roth; his parents; his brothers and sisters Franklin Roth, Kenneth Roth, Josephine Nelson, Charles Roth, Jean Roth, Shirley and husband Tom Cozine, and Kathleen Stetzel; his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Joyce Roth, Ellen Jensen, Curtis Davis, Richard Evans, Bruce Burns, Harry Larsen, Donald Jespersen, Donald Lewis, Ray Burger, Edwin Jespersen, Gerald Jespersen, and Russell Jespersen.
Survivors include his sons Mike Roth of Marion, Iowa and Jim and wife Cindy Roth of Excelsior Springs, Missouri; his granddaughters Adrien Roth of Denver, Colorado, Samantha Roth of Excelsior Springs, Missouri; brothers and sisters Keith Roth of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Joseph and wife Mary Lou Roth of Lake Panorama, Iowa, and Phyllis Larsen of Audubon, Iowa; his brother-in-law and sisters-in-law Helen Roth of Marion, Iowa, Katherine Roth of Waukee, Iowa, Jane Davis and Margaret Evans both of Audubon, Iowa, Harriet Lewis of Des Moines, Iowa, Dorothy Jespersen of Rogers, Arkansas, Janet Berger of Bella Vista, Arkansas, Charlene Jespersen of Exira, Iowa, and Darrell Jensen of Audubon, Iowa; many nieces, nephews other relatives and many friends.
Funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Doug Opp on Monday, April 25, 2016, at 10:30 A.M. at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery. The casket bearers will be Charles Roth, Steve Stetzel, Joe Roth, Steve Roth, Jim Roth, Dave Jensen, Brian Jensen, and Craig Jensen. The family will meet with friends Sunday afternoon April 24, 2016, at 2:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa.