Barbara Ann Rossate

BARBARA ANN ROSSATE Cedar Rapids Barbara Ann Rossate, 82, of Cedar Rapids, died peacefully at her home on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 31, at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Marion, Iowa. Burial at 2 p.m. Monday afternoon at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids. Arrangements are with Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids. Those unable to attend are invited to watch the service via Livestream. Please find the livestream link on Barbara's Tribute Wall and share your support and memories with her family at www.stewartbaxter.com under obituaries. Survivors include her children, Julie (Jeffrey Von Wald) Rossate and Jeffery (Michelle) Rossate; grandchildren, Kaitlyn and Kalvin; sister, Marienne Daniels; sister-in-law, Janet (Joseph) Schwantner; and her cousin who was like a sister, Jean Siemens. Barbara was born May 22, 1939, in Mendota, Ill., the daughter of Ralph and Louise (Goebel) Jacob. She graduated from the University of Iowa in 1961 with Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and in 1963 with a Master of Arts in Social Work. On June 22, 1963, Barbara married David S. Rossate in Mendota, Ill. A licensed clinical social worker and a member of the National Association of Social Workers, Barbara opened her own private practice, Professional Counseling and Consultation, in 1989, with a specialization in stepfamily care. She had a thriving practice for more than 25 years. Barbara was passionate about helping others and creating a more just society. She volunteered with community health initiatives and worked regularly at her local polling place during caucuses and elections. Barbara was a member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church since 1971. She was active in church committees, women's circles and small groups. She saw her work as a social worker as a way to live out her Christian faith. Barbara loved to read and bake, particularly at Christmas. Her family loved to tease her about the number of Christmas cookies she would bake and share, particularly those crazy pink bon bons that only made one celebrated appearance but lived on in family lore. Barbara and David loved traveling, whether visiting their children and grandchildren around the United States or traveling internationally. Barbara and David especially remembered their big trip to Europe with St. Mark's. Of all the places in the world, Barbara was most at home at Green Lake in Wisconsin. Her family began vacationing there when she was nine years old. Barbara and her family continued to spend time every summer at Green Lake celebrating life's events, including her honeymoon with David. One of Barbara's biggest joys was the delight her grandchildren took in being at Green Lake. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, David; and her in-laws, Jack and Seri Rossate. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Organ and Piano Fund of the St. Mark's Lutheran Church Foundation.