Royl G. Roden, 77

Posted

Royl G. Roden, 77, died on Saturday, March 4, 2023, surrounded by his family at his home outside of Pisgah. He was born on Jan. 31, 1946, in Little Sioux, the third of nine children to William and Josephine (Bothwell) Roden. He attended school in Orson for a few years, before moving to the Mondamin school and then graduating from West Harrison High School in 1964. While in school, Royl was an instrumental part of the basketball team, where he was on the All Southwest Iowa Team for all four years. To this day he still holds two records at the school. After he graduated, Royl started farming. On Aug. 7, 1965, Royl was united in marriage to Neva Oliver at the RLDS church in Pisgah. They were blessed with three children, Gina, John and Jan. Royl and Neva started River Valley Reality where he was licensed to sell real estate and did appraisals of farmland. He also had his insurance license and sold insurance for Woodman and Farmland. The family lived in Orson before building their home, with the help of his father-in-law, outside of Pisgah in 1976. Neva died eight years later. Royl was united in marriage to Jane Leaders Pospisil on June 10, 1985, and welcomed her two children, Josh and Jana, into his family.

Royl loved being outdoors. He enjoyed his time raising cattle, being in the tractor and taking the kids fishing. Royl also loved children, and they were drawn in by his gentle, calm demeanor. He and Jane were members of the Followers of Christ in Woodbine. Royl’s passion was his ministry. It started with his calling to the office of Priest in 1969 and he was eventually named to the office of Seventy. It is impossible to count the administrations he offered and marriages and funerals he officiated for. It didn’t matter if he was out on the farm in his tractor, if someone needed him to pray, he stopped what he was doing and attended to them.

Royl was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Neva in 1984. He is survived by his wife, Jane Roden of Pisgah; five children, Gina (Craig) Birdsall of Pisgah, John Roden of Woodbine, Jan (Rowdy) Evans of Mondamin, Josh (Nikki) Pospisil of Mondamin and Jana Pospisil of Woodbine; 12 grandchildren, Kayla (Caleb) Carter of Elkhorn, Neb., Tyler Birdsall (Brie Steffens) of Grimes, Kylee (Jordan) Bachmeier of Mobridge, S.D., Tanner Pospisil of Pisgah, Dalton Pospisil of Pisgah, Jared Roden of Woodbine, Jessica Roden of Houston, Texas, Maren Evans of Mondamin, Sage Evans of Mondamin, Nolan Birdsall of Pisgah, Gunner Wagner of Woodbine and Tesla Wagner of Woodbine; three great-granddaughters, Rowan, Hazel and Brooklyn; eight siblings, Danny Roden of Little Sioux, Judy (David) Despain of Omaha, Neb., Lou (Paula) Roden of Council Bluffs, Dave (Paulette) Roden of Pisgah, Joan (Mike) Green of Anchorage, Alaska, Kay (Rahn) Porter of Franktown, Colo., Pat Roden of Osceola and Peggy (Mark) Jones of Columbus, Neb.; and many other relatives and friends.

A funeral service was held on Sunday, March 12, 2023, at Community of Christ in Woodbine. Elder Randy Killpack presided over the service assisted by Teacher Craig Birdsall. The musician was Rick Powell and the musical selections were “Scars In Heaven” and “Thank You”. The pallbearers were Tyler Birdsall, Tanner Pospisil, Dalton Pospisil, Jared Roden, Sage Evans, Nolan Birdsall and Gunner Wagner. Royl’s final resting place is at the Woodbine Cemetery.

Fouts Funeral Home in Woodbine was in charge of arrangements. www.foutsfuneralhome.com