An open house with Marilyn Keenan Rozendaal’s family will take place Friday, May 12, from 5-8 p.m. at St. Francis Commun-ity Center in Grin-nell. A memorial service will be Saturday, May 13, at 10:30 a.m. at Grinnell United Methodist Church, followed by a luncheon. Family and friends are welcome. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Marilyn’s name to Special Olympics Iowa, EveryStep Hospice, The Arc of Iowa, or the Alzheimer's Association.
Marilyn Gillespie Keenan Rozendaal, 88, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, wife, and friend, passed away peace-fully on Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, at Kavanagh House in Des Moines.
Born June 14, 1934, in Grinnell to C. Ithel and Ruth (McCulloch) Gillespie, Marilyn attended school in Ladora and Newburg. Following graduation in 1952, she married Kenneth Keenan. They raised six children and dairy farmed in Jasper County from 1956 until 1986.
Marilyn was humble, generous, compassionate, and a consummate homemaker. She was a gifted seamstress who made clothes for her children and grandchildren, receiving state and national recognition for several of her projects. Marilyn was a full-time working partner on the dairy farm requiring early morning and late afternoon milking chores year-round.
Marilyn was active in Victor Grange, the Newburg-Chester Congregational Church, 4-H, and The Arc (formerly ARC). She was instrumental in establishing group homes in Grinnell for people with disabilities. She enjoyed playing piano, card games, and attending dances. After her children were grown, Marilyn worked for Grinnell-Newburg Community School District.
Marilyn and Kenneth divorced in 1996. In 2008, she married Robert (Bob) Rozendaal of Sully. They were active in the Newburg Congregational Church and Sully First Reformed Church.
Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents, husband Robert Rozendaal, daughter Janet Keenan, brother Howard Gillespie, sister Carolyn Risch, former husband Kenneth Keenan, stepdaughter-in-law Crissie Rozendaal, infant grandson Joseph Hirl, and infant granddaughter Megan McKelvey.
Marilyn is survived by five of her children: Pamela (Dennis) Vogel of Des Moines, Shirley Keenan of Johnston, Gary (Gail Perkins) Keenan of Des Moines, Marcia (Dennis Magnuson) McKelvey of Decorah, Glen (Missy) Keenan of Des Moines; 15 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; sister Eleanor Osland of Grinnell; stepchildren Dale (Jana) Rozendaal of Lynnville, Marla (Eugene) Sjaardema of Reasnor, Dennis Rozendaal of Cedar Rapids, Rodney (Dana) Rozendaal of Sully, and Ross (Kara) Rozendaal of Arizona; and many stepgrandchildren.
