Gene Roose, 84, of Pella passed away on Memorial Day, May 25, 2026, at the Hospice of Pella Comfort House after his health rapidly declined. Memorial service was at 11 a.m., Friday, May 29, at Calvary Christian Reformed Church, Pella, preceded by a committal service at Oakwood Cemetery, Pella. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are preferred for Pella Christian High School.
Gene Roose was the second of four children born to Henry A. and Willemina (Wilhelmina) (Bok-hoven) Roose. He was born on Aug. 29, 1941, near New Sharon. Gene received his elementary education at the Peoria Christian School and graduated from Pella Community High School with the Class of 1959. During high school, he worked as a farmhand milking cows at the Bandstra farm during the week and only going home on the weekends.
Gene enlisted with the Army Iowa National Guard in 1963. Gene was introduced to Norma Jean Struik by a cousin of hers, and they were united in marriage on Aug. 25, 1964, at Sully Christian Reformed Church. They did everything together, and Norma often rode with him in the semi-truck hauling livestock. They were living in Sully and Peoria when their four children were born: Sharon Rae in 1965, Douglas Eugene in 1967, Kurtis Allen in 1970, and Scott Eric in 1976.
Gene worked at Peoria Feed & Grain and raised livestock and then worked on the Iowa Lakes Community College Farm at Emmetsburg. Gene and Norma then moved to West Des Moines, where he did maintenance work for Git n’ Go taking him to many places across their store network in Iowa. They moved back to Pella in 2020 where they made their residence and most recently had made the decision together to move to Fairhaven East.
Those who will cherish his memory are his wife Norma; their four children Sheryl (Dale) Mays of Pella, Doug (Pam) Roose of Trego, WI, Kurtis Roose of Littleton, CO, and Scott (Kristi) Roose of Pella; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Gene leaves the following sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Nancy Roose of Oskaloosa, Dorothy Van Maanen of Grinnell, Keith and Darlene Struik of Sully, and Verlan and Elaine Struik of Leighton; along with several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his two brothers and sister Art Roose, Linda (Gary) Wouterse, and Roger Roose; his parents-in-law Kryn and Alberta (Jansen) Struik; and brother-in-law Marvin D. Van Maanen.
Home and his family were a very important part of his life. He enjoyed their Iowa family vacations and was a fan of NBA and college basketball. Gene made profession of his faith at the Peoria Christian Reformed Church, and they were members of the Peoria Christian Reformed Church, Prairie City Christian Reformed Church, Des Moines Christian Reformed Church, and Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Pella.
