Russell R. Rolinger, 77, of Waterloo, died Sunday, September 1, 2013, at Windsor Nursing and Rehab Center, from complications of dementia. He was born November 16, 1935, in Waterloo, son of Louis P. and Edna Fitzgerald Rolinger. He married Jean Marie Stephenson on June 20, 1964, at St. John Catholic Church, Waterloo. Mr. Rolinger attended Our Lady Academy through the eighth grade, then graduated from Waterloo East High School in 1953. He went on to earn his bachelor's degree from Florida State University, where he majored in hotel and restaurant management. He was the owner and operator of Rolinger Restaurant until taking a position in 1989 with the University of Northern Iowa food service department. He also served in the U. S. Marine Reserve.
Survived by: his wife; two sons, Mark (Lisa) of Cedar Falls and Matthew of Waterloo; two daughters, Cami (Steve) Smalley of Lake Elmo, Minnesota, and Susan Rolinger of Waterloo; nine grandchildren, Meredith Smalley, Elizabeth Smalley, Benjamin Smalley, Abigail Rolinger, Allison Rolinger, Clare Rolinger, Caitlyn Hagarty, Hannah Hagarty, and Madeline Hagarty; a sister, Joan Munday of Iowa City; and a sister-in-law, Johnella Rolinger of Sun City, Arizona. Preceded in death by: his parents; and brother, Jack Rolinger.
Services: 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, with burial in Mount Olivet Cemetery. Visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and for an hour before services Thursday, all at the church. Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service on South Street is in charge of arrangements. Memorials: may be directed to Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Cedar Valley Hospice, or the Rolinger Family Scholarship Fund through the Allen Foundation.
Copyright Waterloo Courier on-line edition; downloaded September 3, 2013.