Shirley Rodas Fosse

Shirley Rodas Fosse, age 98, passed away peacefully on December 22, 2025 at St. Joseph's Hospital North in Tampa, Florida. We look forward to seeing her in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ!

Services are pending with Hugeback – Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory – Olson Chapel in Nashua.

She was born on July 27, 1927, the second daughter to Frank and Emma (Whittman) Rodas in rural Clayton County, Iowa. She was baptized on August 14, 1927 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Elkport, Iowa. On August 13, 1939 she was confirmed at Hope Lutheran Church, Littleport, Iowa. Shirley attended country schools in Clayton County and graduated from the Elkader High School. She attended the Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls (now the University of Northern Iowa) receiving her teaching certificate. She taught kindergarten and first grade in the Garnavillo, La Porte City and Geneseo schools.

On January 3, 1951, Shirley was united in marriage to Marvin Fosse. Marvin and Shirley lived in Jacksonville, Florida for 13 months before moving back to La Porte City, Iowa. They moved in February 1955 to make their permanent home in Nashua, Iowa. She continued her education at Wartburg College in Waverly Iowa earning a Bachelor of Science Degree.

She enjoyed her family, volunteering in her community and church, travel and family history. Shirley is survived by her daughter Anne Fosse, granddaughter Kelly Farraher of Raleigh, North Carolina, her son Paul (Christy) Fosse of Tampa Florida, granddaughter Kaitlin (Joshua) Fosse, great grandson Jay, great granddaughter Sophia, all of Broomfield, Colorado, granddaughter Ashley Fosse of Tampa, Florida and grandson Matthew Fosse of San Francisco, California. Also surviving is her sister Donna (Alvin Deceased) Shaw of Strawberry Point Iowa and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband Marvin, on August 17, 1993, her parents and sisters Maxine (Don deceased) Lubben and Marilyn (Carl deceased) Kuehl.

Some additional family history is her mother, Emma Pauline (Wittman) Rodas was born June 15, 1899 in Guttenberg, Iowa and died February 27, 1988 at the Delaware County Memorial Hospital in Manchester. Emma's parents were John and Mary (Moser) Wittman. She married Frank Lavern Rodas at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, in Dubuque on April 28, 1925. She was survived by four daughters, 13 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren along with her sister Ann Costigan. She was preceded in death by her husband Frank on March 12, 1962 and seven brothers and two sisters.

The family would like to thank the staff at Annie's assisted Living Facility in Tampa for their compassionate care for the last four years.

The memorial service will be announced at a future time.

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